inro, netsuke, ojime

Ogawa Haritsu (Ritsuō), artist

1663–1747

inro, netsuke, ojime, 1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: mother of pearl; lacquer; wood; ivory; ceramic inlay

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 8.6 x 6 x 2.7 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 3 x 3.8 x 3.2 cm

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.0157.a,b,c

Not on display

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Civic Leader and Art Collector: Sallie Casey Thayer and an Art Museum for KU

Ritsuō used his skill to inlay lacquer with ceramics, mother-of-pearl, and colored beads on the front and back of this inro, or small carrying case. Because traditional Japanese garments lacked pockets, people placed small objects inside inro, which were suspended from the obi, or sash.

The detailed carving on the accompanying ivory netsuke, or button-like ornament, depicts a charming illustration of the parable of the three blind men who, each touching a single part of a large animal (the elephant), describe it in completely different terms.

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Teaching Gallery Label:
"The Tea Ceremony," Apr-2014, Kris Imants Ercums
Ritsuo used his skill to inlay lacquer with ceramics, mother-of-pearl, and colored beads on the front and back of this inro. Because traditional Japanese gard lacked pockets, small objects were often placed inside inro, which were suspended from the obi or sash.
The detailed carving on the accompanying ivory netsuke of an elephant and three men is a charming illustration of the parable of the three blind men who, each touching a single part of the large animal, describe it in completely different terms.

Archive Label 2003:
The elephant was especially popular in the 18th and 19th centuries in Japanese art. Exoticism was in style and elephants, often turned out in rich decorative trappings and harnesses, inspired lacquer artists to virtuosic proportions. Ritsuo used his skill to inlay lacquer, ceramics, mother-of-pearl, and colored beads on the front and around the curve to the back of this inro-. He further enlivened the surface by applying gold lacquer to some of the raised surfaces.

Detailed carving on the accompanying ivory netsuke of an elephant and three men is a charming illustration of the parable of the three blind men who, each touching a single part of the large animal, describe it in completely different terms.