A black-lacquer four-case inro
After Shibata Zeshin, 19th century
The rounded rectangular body with a rich roiro ground lacquered with a continuous scene of a sparrow's nest in a hanging lantern, one adult approaching to feed its three fledglings while two others fly past trailing wisteria on the reverse, in gold and silver takamaki-e, the lantern of sabiji-nuri (simulated russet iron) and the interior of nashiji, inscribed Zeshin; with a peach-stone ojime. 7cm (2¾in) high.