Case (Inrō) with a Fox from the Kyōgen Play "The Fox Hunter" (Tsurigitsune) (obverse); Haystacks and Stream from the Kyōgen Play "Hakuzosu" (reverse) 19th century

This small case was made by Shibata Zeshin in Japan, using carved wood and lacquer. Known as an inrō, it was designed to hold small objects, and is decorated with scenes from Kyōgen plays. The material of the case itself, wood, is relatively humble, but the surface has been painstakingly worked. Zeshin was a master of lacquer techniques, and here he has used it to build up layers of subtle color and texture. The images are carved in low relief, and then lacquered and polished to create a smooth, lustrous surface. The effect is both refined and rustic, playing on the natural grain of the wood. The process of creating such a piece would have been time-consuming, requiring great skill and patience. In a culture that valued craftsmanship and attention to detail, this object would have been seen as a testament to the maker's dedication and artistry. It shows the power of skilled hands to transform everyday materials into objects of beauty and cultural significance, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.