A FOUR-CASE LACQUER INRO WITH SHOKI AND ONI
Lacquer and gold inroJapan1900s, Meiji period (1868-1912)A four-case inro with bright black roironuri, the depiction in takamaki-e with colors but especially a lot of gold. One side shows the great demon hunter Shoki sneaking through the night with a pinched look on his face as if spooked. He can be identified from his winged cap of a Chinese minister as well as the straight ken sword, which he has drawn. The other side shows a steep mountain slope with a cave, in which the red oni (demon) is hiding. He is shrieking full of fear as he has already spotted the approaching demon hunter. Gold and red kirikane flakes on the gold mountain slope, the fully golden tree with rich foliage is especially powerful. Bead-shaped, ochre-brown lacquer ojime.HEIGHT 7 CMCondition: Good condition; expected wear to lacquer, particularly on the edges.Provenance: The Harris collection no. 267 (with old label and description) then French private collection