THE JAPANESE COLLECTION

Flowers and Insects Inro

Yoyusai five case inro.

L29

A five case gold lacquer inro decorated with flowers and insects, including butterflies and beetles in stone and pearl inlay.

Signed: Yoyusai
Provenance: J Katchen
Published: Item 344 (inro) 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.
Dimensions: 10cm long x 5.2cm wide

Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845) was a prolific worker and had a large workshop, It is likely, therefore that a number of inro that bear his name were made in his workshop, under his guidance.

Ojime: Metal ojime of a fly on a bean.
Seal: Not known
Provenance: J Katchen
Published: Item 308 (ojime) 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Netsuke: Ivory in the form of a cape gooseberry bursting open to reveal the fruit which is coral.  (NL29)
Japan, 19th century
Signed: Ren (Ishikawa Rensai), Asakusa