3465 (previous number (Albert Bender’s number)) and 3898 (previous number (UC Paleontology Department))
Accession number:
Acc.3032
Description:
Inro, Netsuke, and Ojime: The inro (a) is a rectangular, single compartment box. Composed of inner box and outer veneered box w/ straight sides and rounded corners. Capping lid fits over inner box. Many layers of rich brown translucent lacquer; undecorated. Concealed cord runners w/ ivory lining of holes. Purple and blue braided silk cord. Netsuke (b) is carved walnut shell representing daruma (Bodhidharma) w/ incised detail. Cord hole on back side. Very smooth polished surface. Ojime (c) is pink Lacquer (?) bead. L. (a): 8.5 x 7.5cm.; (b) 4cm.; (c) 1.5cm.
Donor:
Design Department (UC Berkeley)
Collection place:
Japan
Verbatim coll. place:
Japan
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
Albert M. Bender
Collection date:
before 1933
Materials:
Ivory (material), Shell (animal material), Silk, and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Beads (pierced objects) and Carvings (visual works)
Function:
2.2 Personal Adornments and Accoutrements
Accession date:
1974
Context of use:
Originally used to contain seals used for officiating signatures, the inro was later adapted for carying [carrying] various personal articles and toiletries incl. medicines, and herbs. To wear it, the netsuke was thrust through the sash of the kimono for the support of the inro; the ojime functioning to keep the compartments closed by tightening the cords.