Case (Inrō) with Design of Pines Tree and Branches 18th - 19th century

Editor: Here we have an Inrō case with a design of pine trees and branches, made sometime between the 18th and 19th centuries, attributed to Maruyama Ōkyo. It looks like it's crafted from wood and perhaps lacquer. I find the delicate rendering of the pine needles fascinating. What can you tell me about it? Curator: From a materialist perspective, I see a convergence of the natural world and human labor. Wood is sourced, lacquer refined, designs rendered-- each a step in a process involving specific techniques and human action. Consider the Inrō itself – it wasn't just a decorative object. Editor: No? Curator: It served a functional purpose, likely as a container for medicines or seals worn suspended from the obi. The very act of carrying this case transformed it from a simple object to a symbol of status and cultural identity, reflecting access to certain resources and the skill of the artist and artisans. Who, do you think, were these artisans? Were they of the merchant class perhaps? How would this case change one's daily life? Editor: I hadn't thought about that at all. It's easy to just see the beauty of the landscape. Curator: Exactly, the landscape, a romantic symbol itself. But we should see the tree here also as an industrialized component in the daily life of Edo period. By the way, the pine design... how do you imagine it came to be applied to the case? Editor: Possibly a stencil? Curator: And that stencil itself – more material, labor, expertise. Considering its social function, method of construction, and class context reframes the work, right? Editor: Definitely. I appreciate how focusing on the materials and processes helps unpack the bigger cultural story here. Thank you for sharing that.