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Five-case inro with design of chickens and cages

Koma School (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
Early 19th century

Medium/Technique Black lacquer ground, upper part with dense gold kinpun forming a gold ground, lower part with less dense variegated kinpun embellished with small hirame, cages in gold hiramaki-e over black lacquer; one bird in gold, silver and colored hiramaki-e, the other birds in encrustation of gold, silver and shakudo; compartments and risers gold nashiji; shoulders and rims gold fundame
Dimensions Overall: 9.2 x 5 x 2.6 cm (3 5/8 x 1 15/16 x 1 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.9977a
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsInro

Signed Koma Kansai
古滿寛哉
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.