Inro with Drums and Pipes for Classical Bugaku Dance

Description A carved wood "manju" netsuke with a gold lacquer hare's-foot fern ("shinobugusai"). A standard wood and gold ground two compartment inro. A maple tree which the upper part of a large drum and a curtain used in Bugaku are beneath. On the reverse a sho or pan pipe and three maple leaves. The design in "takamakie" and "hiramakie" in gold with some red for the maple leaves and silver lacquer. A background of greyish transparent lacquer on the reverse and top to allow the wood grain to appear. A plain interior. The cord channels are internal.

Provenance William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions none

Credit Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters