A THREE-CASE LACQUER INRO

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY), SIGNED IWASA RIHEI

Details
A THREE-CASE LACQUER INRO
edo period (18th century), signed iwasa rihei
Of rectangular shape, lacquered in black takamaki-e with crows flying in the moonlight, the moon on one side designed in gimpun, rising behind a field of autumn grasses dusted in a mist of kimpun, the interior cases red lacquer with fundame risers, the lid of the top inscribed with a Chinese wish for lengevity, followed by the famous poem whose words are the Japanese national anthemn (kimi ga yo wa chiyoni ya chiyoni sazare ishino iwao to narite koke no musu made followed by kyoho nijunen kinoto-u chushu kichijitsu Buyo Kofu no ju Iwasa Rihei nanjunisai kore o sho (made in 1735 by Iwasa Rihei of Efu [Edo] of Buyo, aged 72)
2 7/8in. (7.3cm.) long