Inro with Cart of Flowers from the Four Seasons, with Netsuke

Description A standard (oblong) gold lacquer four case inro. Design around the inro shows a flower cart with a basket filled with a flower arrangement of camellia ("tsubaki"), chrysanthemums, prunus, clematis, peony, wisteria, cherry and iris. The flowers in "hiramakie" in gold, red and silver lacquer on a background of "gyobu." The interior with "nashiji" and the rims in "fundame" or "kinji." Inscribed in gold on the bottom of the lower case with a signature and seal. The cord channels are external. The lacquer netsuke is in the form of chrysanthemums.

Exhibitions

• Netsuke: Miniature Sculpture of Japan. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. 1978.

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

Inscriptions [Seal] "kakihan"; [Signature] Toshi

Credit Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters