A gold-lacquer three-case inro By Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1870–1890

A gold-lacquer three-case inro
By Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1870–1890Of lenticular cross-section with straight sides, rounded corners, curved top and base, and integrated cord-runners, the gold fundame lacquer ground decorated in silver and black togidashi maki-e, hiramaki-e, and takamaki-e with tetsusabi-nuri depicting on one side a carp swimming up a waterfall and on the other side water splashing over a crag, each side also with small flowers and plants, the compartments and risers of gold nashiji, the shoulders and rims gold fundame, painted stone ojime with gilt-metal mounts, signed in kebori on the base Zeshin; with a fitted wood storage box and paper label from the Zeshin Hyakunijunen Tsuizen Kinen Tenkan (Zeshin 120th Anniversary Display). 7.5cm x 4.9cm x 1.7cm (3in x 1 7/8in x 5/8in). (3).

ExhibitedShibata Zeshin o shinobu kai (Exhibition in Memory of Shibata Zeshin), Okyokan Building, Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan (Tokyo National Museum), Tokyo, 18 July 2011.Nezu Bijutsukan (Nezu Museum), Tokyo, 1 November–16 December 2012.Published: Nezu Bijutsukan (Nezu Museum), Shibata Zeshin no shikko, urushi-e kaiga (Shibata Zeshin: From Lacquer Arts to Painting), Tokyo, 2012, cat. no.80.