λ A JAPANESE SHIBAYAMA-STYLE INLAID IVORY FOUR-CASE INRO

λ A JAPANESE SHIBAYAMA-STYLE INLAID IVORY FOUR-CASE INRO

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

Decorated with a dense design of a large eagle perched on a flowering branch of prunus, the bird of prey observing a sparrow in flight beneath it, the reverse with another small bird underneath large hibiscus flowers and leaves, looking up at two butterflies fluttering above; each side embellished with inlays in mother of pearl, coral and horn, signed Masaaki / Shomei in a mother of pearl cartouche underneath; attached to en-suite Shibayama-style ojime and netsuke, the bead decorated with flowers inlaid in mother of pearl and metal studs; the lid of the manju netsuke decorated with a dense design of flowerheads, the inro 9.5cm.

Provenance: an English private collection, Somerset.