US$1,550.00 | ![]() |
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[A manuscript album of designs for inrō and other objects]
[Artist unidentified].
[Japan, ca. late Edo period (1830-50s?)]. Manuscript.
A collection of over ninety delicately hand-painted designs for inrō (small containers for tobacco and medicine hung on the belt), menuki (metal fittings for sword hilts), tsuba (hand guards for swords), and other metal, ivory, and wooden ornaments. Some of the illustrations feature famous characters from folklore; others depict scenes infused with humour. A meticulously painted array of miniatures, several no larger than a fingernail.
One concertina-bound (orihon) volume of manuscript illustrations mounted on card leaves and fortified with used paper, complete. Presumed original boards, extremities worn. Binding cocked. Chips to gold leaf mounted daisen panel. Occasional scrapes to card rectos, stamps to illustrations, splits to gutter. Number to spine. Unpaged. 23.6 x 18.5 cm. Smallest single design measures 1 x 1 cm; largest approx. 9 x 6.4 cm.