Tortoiseshell and Basketry Inrō

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tortoiseshell and basketry inro by artist. Round, two-part container with a tortoiseshell exterior and basketry interior. The tortoiseshell is dark brown with a lighter brown and black pattern. The basketry is woven from thin strips of wood or bamboo. The container has a small, oval-shaped lid with a loop of leather cord attached. The lid is also made of tortoiseshell and basketry. The background is a plain gray color. The container appears to be a traditional Japanese inro. It has a small, dark bead attached to the cord. The bead is cylindrical in shape. The inro is displayed against a neutral background.