Container, netsuke and bead

Museum number:

9-12543a-c

Permalink:

ark:/21549/hm210912543a@2dc

Alternate number:

3256 (previous number (Albert Bender’s number)) and 3897 (previous number (Design Dept.))

Accession number:

Acc.3032

Description:

Inro, netsuke, and ojime: The inro (a), wood, is a thin rectangular box w/lid composed of dark wood on wide sides, and lighter wood attached at narrow sides which is rounded & w/ holes for cords. Thin inner box lining, which lid fits over. Metal decor. attached to one side: bearded man w/ hat mounted backwards on horse, that stands on dull encrusted material. Gold detail. Nr. the top is a mountain in same material. Reverse side has three cloisonne 'blossom' medallions. (b) netsuke is a stump of wood w/ bark remaining and 5 sawed off points. Brown cord runs thru drilled hole. Ojime (c) is a dull yellow brown shell. (A)L. 8.2cm., W. 7.5cm. (b) max L. 6cm.; (c) L. 1.5 cm.

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:

Metal and Wood (plant material)

Object type:

ethnography

Object class:

Beads (pierced objects)

Function:

2.2 Personal Adornments and Accoutrements

Accession date:

1974

Context of use:

The inro is a multi-pupose [purpose] article used originally for containing seals used in officiating signatures. They were later adapted for carrying various personal articles and toiletries incl. medicines and herbs. For lack of a pocket, the netsuke was thrust through the sash of the kimono for the support of the inro. The ojime kept the compartments closed by tightening the cords.

Department:

Asia (except western Russia)

Dimensions:

a— length 8.2 centimeters, a— width 7.5 centimeters, c— length 1.5 centimeters, and b: max— length 6 centimeters

Legacy documentation: