Medicine Case (Inro)
maker
Unknown
Dateearly 19th century
Place MadeJapan, East Asia
MediumLacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and nashiji; crystal netsuke and amethyst ojime
Dimensions9 x 6 cm (3 9/16 x 2 3/8 in.)
ClassificationsBoxes
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberU18e57
eMuseum ID719188
Previous NumberU18e54 (GC)
EmbARK ObjectID13418
Previous NumberU18e54.1
TMS Source ID2351
Last Updated8/14/24
Status
Not on viewWeb CommentaryDepicting a cicada alighted on a piece of wood, the inroopens at the side to reveal five tiny drawers. A basket outlined in gold appears on the back. The netsuke is crystal carved in the shape of an eggplant; the sliding clasp (ojime) is amethyst.
Source: “Japanese Objects,” in Journeys East: Isabella Stewart Gardner and Asia, edited by Alan Chong and Noriko Murai (Boston: ISGM and Gutenberg Periscope, 2009): 414.
Source: “Japanese Objects,” in Journeys East: Isabella Stewart Gardner and Asia, edited by Alan Chong and Noriko Murai (Boston: ISGM and Gutenberg Periscope, 2009): 414.
BibliographyNotesGilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 146. (as Japanese, dated 18th-19th century)
Yasuko Horioka et al. Oriental and Islamic Art: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1975), pp. 89-90, no. 40a. (as early 19th century)
“Notes, Records, Comments.” Gardner Museum Calendar of Events 8, no. 30 (28 Mar. 1965), p. 2.
Alan Chong and Noriko Murai. Journeys East: Isabella Stewart Gardner and Asia. Exh. cat. (Boston: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 2009), pp. 411, 414 fig. 9. (as possibly purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner in Japan, 1883)
Holly Salmon, "From Tree Sap to Tea Jar: East Asian Lacquer," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 9 February 2021, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/tree-sap-tea-jar-east-asian-lacquer
Yasuko Horioka et al. Oriental and Islamic Art: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1975), pp. 89-90, no. 40a. (as early 19th century)
“Notes, Records, Comments.” Gardner Museum Calendar of Events 8, no. 30 (28 Mar. 1965), p. 2.
Alan Chong and Noriko Murai. Journeys East: Isabella Stewart Gardner and Asia. Exh. cat. (Boston: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 2009), pp. 411, 414 fig. 9. (as possibly purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner in Japan, 1883)
Holly Salmon, "From Tree Sap to Tea Jar: East Asian Lacquer," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 9 February 2021, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/tree-sap-tea-jar-east-asian-lacquer
ProvenanceNotesPossibly purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner during her trip to Japan in 1883.
