A RARE FOUR-CASE LACQUER INRO DEPICTING UCHIWA

A RARE FOUR-CASE LACQUER INRO DEPICTING UCHIWA
Unsigned
Japan, 17
th
century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The well-sized inro bearing a roiro ground, finely decorated with gold and red hiramaki-e to depict uchiwa ( on either side. One enclosing stylized shishi and peonies detailed with iridescent raden and aogai, the sides issuing further floral blooms in red lacquer. The reverse similarly decorated within the outline of the fan with scholars in deep discussion next to a pavilion, their robes illuminated by iridescent shell and aogai. The interior compartments of nashiji with gold fundame rims. With a guri lacquer ojime. The accompanying 18
th
-19
th
century tsuishu lacquer manju netsuke carved with opulent flowers against a wood ground.
HEIGHT 7.4 cm, LENGTH 6.5 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor typical wear and few losses to aogai inlays.
Provenance:
From the collection of Arend Louis Serné. An old collector's label to the interior, 'G 188.' Arend Louis Serné (1925-2021) was the fourth-generation owner of the firm A. Serné & Son, Costumiers, located on the Groenburgwal, Amsterdam, Netherlands, established in 1866. An avid piano player, he was also fond of modern literature, and a passionate collector of inro. He started his inro collection in the late 1970s. At that time, he entered the gallery Aalderink Oriental Art along the Spiegelgracht in Amsterdam and was immediately captivated by the beauty of inro. He began his collection with three simple specimens but hoped to own more. He remarked, “Oh that's nothing, a decent collection must be about a hundred pieces!” And collect he did. Arend was not concerned with the signature or the rarity, but with the intrinsic poetic beauty embodied in this very Japanese art form.