Lacquer inro signed Shibata Zeshin, Daikoku smoking, Japa Edo period

Rare Japanese inro in gold and silver lacquer signed by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), depicting Daikoku, one of the Seven Gods of Happiness (Shichifukujin), seated on a rice pestle, holding a pipe, while a rat, his traditional attribute, walks on a round window located at the top right, the bars of which are made of bamboo. The back represents the continuation of the rice pestle. To counterbalance the simplicity of the back, Zheshin subtly uses the kirikane lacquer technique with small gold squares whose shimmering brilliance responds to the artfully arranged reflections of burgundy mother-of-pearl.
A version of the same subject as this inr? but with a more rounded shape is held in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. An everyday object that became a prestigious accessory, the inr? developed in Japan from the 16th century onward. Suspended from the kimono belt using a netsuke, it was used to carry seals, medicines, or herbs. From the 18th century onward, the inr? became a major artistic medium for Japanese lacquer artists, particularly appreciated by samurai and urban merchants to assert their status and taste.
Zeshin, the undisputed master of 19th-century lacquer, is known for his technical inventiveness and his pictorial style, which blends classical refinement with modern irony. His workshop produced a large number of unique pieces, including several variations on this scene of a smoking Daikoku. Here, he combines virtuoso technique—textural play, dark brown lacquer background, and gilded details—with narrative lightness. The god's relaxed posture gives the scene a surprising humanity. This masterpiece of Japanese lacquer from the Edo period embodies the urban aesthetic of late 19th-century Japan. It is aimed at inr? collectors, lovers of antique Japanese lacquer, as well as those seeking rare, signed, and historically documented Japanese art objects.
The inro is accompanied by a beautiful 19th-century netsuké, entirely made of lacquer and also depicting Daikoku, thus forming a cohesive ensemble. The ojime is made of glass.
7.5x6.2x2cm