Inrō with Inrō and Fan 1767 - 1799

This Inrō with Inrō and Fan was crafted by Koma Kyūhaku V in the 18th century. The design marries a bold lacquer red with intricately detailed pictorial elements in gold and black. Its compact size, only a few inches in height, belies its rich visual complexity, suggestive of miniaturization and detail. The two sides present contrasting yet harmonious scenes. One side features a black Inrō alongside a fan, painted with golden rays fanning outward. The other side shows a fan depicted in gold, with a metal cord fastener, and a piece of coral-like sculpture attached to its base. The composition’s balance is achieved through the interplay of geometric shapes and organic forms. The artist uses the fan shape as a semiotic device, hinting at themes of status, aesthetic refinement, and artistic skill. The Inrō challenges fixed meaning by playfully incorporating an image of itself. This invites us to reflect on the structural interplay between representation and reality, in which the artifact transcends its functional purpose to engage with the philosophical discourse on art and self-reference.