ROOM 10

This room is entirely dedicated to lacquerware. Lacquer, urushi, is a viscous latex drawn from the Rhus verniciflua tree. Purifies, heated, and filtered, the lacquer is applied in layers to wooden objects, carefully prepared using some fabric, rough urushi and sabi.

Many inrō occupy the central cases: they are small portable herbs cases, divided into compartments, very commonly used during the Edo period. Finely decorated, these objects are decorated with auspicious decorative patterns, dear to literary tradition.

Inside the vertical showcases, there are suzuribako (writing boxes), stationery and documents boxes and writing tables.

The kurodana is a piece of furniture for tooth blackening, that shouldn’t miss in dowries of the rich lords' daughters. It is decorated with the mon (crests) of the Datē family

Among the most curious objects, there are some lunchboxes for outdoor banquets (sagejubako).

Inrō, Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)
Fusen, inrō, 19th cent.
Kurodana with Datē family mon, Japan, 18th cent.
Fubako, box for letters, Japan, 19th century
Kobako, box for incense, Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)
Tebako, cosmetic box, Japan, 19th century
Sagejubako, pic-nic set, Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)
Inrō, Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)
Inrō, Japan, Edo period (1603-1868), detail
Fubako, box for letters, Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)
Kushibako, box for combs, Japan, 19th century
Sagejubako, pic-nic set, Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)