Chishiki Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 Hi. I have this tobacco case (tonkotsu) that I need help with. Thanks in advance. Mark 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinalexander Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 No idea Mark but that is a very nice piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 If that is metalwork…(?) it could be Tenmin. 天民 Sometimes signed Tenmin-O (翁), or Old Tenmin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 It is an inro (印籠). Ref. Inro - Wikipedia 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 My question is what the inro is made of. (Tenmin was famous for his metalwork.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 Looks like lacquer to me... BaZZa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 Hmmm… also in Lazarnick it says that Tenmin was often copied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 Looks like a nice quality single case sleeve inro….does it have an inner case that slides out from the top? (Often done in silver) Looks like a sentoku type metal piece with silver and shakudo (?) inlay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 Not obvious from the photo but Kagami-buta Netsuké metalwork were often signed. (You might need to pop it out to look on the reverse.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chishiki Posted July 30 Author Report Share Posted July 30 Hi folks. Piers it is all metal work, no lacquer, although at first glance it does appear so. It has shibuichi end caps and is one compartment inside that slides out. I'll get some better pics when I can. Thanks for your help so far. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chishiki Posted July 30 Author Report Share Posted July 30 1 hour ago, Nobody said: It is an inro (印籠). Ref. Inro - Wikipedia Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted July 31 Report Share Posted July 31 He has made metal look like lacquer! All metalwork means it must be quite heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chishiki Posted July 31 Author Report Share Posted July 31 1 hour ago, Bugyotsuji said: He has made metal look like lacquer! All metalwork means it must be quite heavy. Hi Piers. Yes it is quite weighty. Are you reasonably confident about reading the mei as ,,'Tenmin'? Thanks so much for your input. Much appreciated. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted July 31 Report Share Posted July 31 Hi Mark, no, sadly I am not confident, but so far no-one has contradicted or offered anything better. The first character would normally be the key to looking him up, but that one is quite squiggly. I can show you some examples of Tenmin signatures for comparison, not an exact match, but pretty close, IMHO. Also he likes to put a little comment in a line just to the right of his signature +Kao, sometimes including the character 翁 for old man. (I wonder if the illustration on the front is not also an exaggerated portrait of himself?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted July 31 Report Share Posted July 31 This first page is from The Index of Inro Artists by Wrangham. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chishiki Posted July 31 Author Report Share Posted July 31 ⁰ 1 hour ago, Bugyotsuji said: Hi Mark, no, sadly I am not confident, but so far no-one has contradicted or offered anything better. The first character would normally be the key to looking him up, but that one is quite squiggly. I can show you some examples of Tenmin signatures for comparison, not an exact match, but pretty close, IMHO. Also he likes to put a little comment in a line just to the right of his signature +Kao, sometimes including the character 翁 for old man. (I wonder if the illustration on the front is not also an exaggerated portrait of himself?) This piece is at a friend's house at the moment so I don't have access to more photos for a few days. I'm not sure if you can see it but he is leaning over and looking at some being/mystical figure in the waves. It's a really nice, well made piece and at first glance it does appear lacquer but it is soft metal. I've been searching around on the internet and it's hard to find examples of his work. Anyway, once I get it back I'll share better photos. Mark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted July 31 Report Share Posted July 31 This is from Vol II Netsuké & Inro by Lazarnick. (Some signatures are closer than others.) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chishiki Posted July 31 Author Report Share Posted July 31 Thanks for all your help Piers. Great info. Much appreciated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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