Case (Inrō) with Design of Heron in Flight and Flowering Plant (obverse); Hawk Attacking a Crane (reverse)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite inrō or portable case, was created by renowned Japanese lacquer artist Ogawa Haritsu (Ritsuō) during the Edo period. Inrō served as elegant accessories for carrying small items like medicine or seals suspended from a sash by a cord and netsuke toggle. Measuring just over three inches tall, this compact object showcases the refined craftsmanship of 19th-century Japan, where functional items became miniature canvases for artistic expression. The case features dynamic bird imagery rendered in colored togidashi and gold hiramaki-e on black lacquer. One side depicts a heron in flight beside a flowering plant, while the reverse shows a hawk attacking a crane. These motifs highlight the artist’s skill in capturing motion and natural drama through layered lacquer techniques, where gold particles are sprinkled and polished to create luminous, textured effects. Such designs often evoked themes of the natural world central to Japanese aesthetics. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art collection as part of the H. O. Havemeyer bequest, this inrō reflects the Edo period’s appreciation for intricate lacquerware as both personal adornment and status symbol. Its detailed avian scenes invite viewers to appreciate the balance between utility and poetic beauty in traditional Japanese art.