EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY)

Details

A Four-Case Inro
Edo Period (17th century)
The black lacquer ground decorated in gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with figures on the Uji Bridge and rolling waves beneath, the base and top of the inro in fine kinpun, compartments and risers in nashiji, fundame rims
7.9cm. high

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The bridge of the Uji River in Kyoto prefecture, on an important road linking Kyoto with the provinces of Iga and Yamato, was built by the priest Docho in 647. It was destroyed by Minamoto Yoshitsune in 1180, during the wars between the Minamoto and Taira families. The passing place on one side of the centre of the bridge was for pedestrians to take refuge and bow should a daimyo's entourage cross the bridge while they were on it.

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