1-234-699 - The Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images

Lacquer inro with Daruma and geese, Japan, 18th century. A two-case carved red lacquer inro of three quarters circular shape decorated with a figure of Daruma in high relief (Daruma is the Japanese name for Bodhidharma, an Indian priest who introduced Zen Buddhism to China and Japan. According to legend, he lost the use of his arms and legs after spending nine years meditating in a cave). The reverse has two enamelled metal geese among reeds inlaid in the style of Ritsuo with pottery, silver, mother of pearl and other materials on an iji-iji-nuri ground bordered with tsuishu lacquer carved with a key fret pattern. The inro is unsigned, but is in the style of Ritsuo and probably by him. Ritsuo was one of the better known inro artists with his own individual style. He was particularly fond of using unusual materials as here. There is a pottery ojime and a wood netsuke carved as a wheelwright which is signed 'Hokei'.