An unusual lacquer four-case inro
17th century
Both sides decorated with a shaped panel enclosing the real and imaginary inventors of botany, agriculture and herbal medicine, one side showing Shinno (Chinese: Shennong), typically depicted with a large head, flowing beard and two rudimentary horns, wearing a mugwort cloak, seated against a rock, holding a bunch of leaves and a staff, the reverse with Ri Jichin (Chinese: Li Shizhen), walking with a scythe suspended with a basket carried over his shoulder, all lacquered in gold takamakie with discreet details inlaid in kirikane, both figures inlaid in tortoise-shell, reserved on a red-lacquered simulated-textile ground, the sides, cord holes, top and bottom decorated with scrolling ferns in gold hiramakie, the interior of nashiji, unsigned; bearing the original Red Cross Exhibition label (wrongly labelled no.227). 6.6cm (2½in) high.
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