Case (Inrō) with Design of Curtains of State and a Woman's Fan 1771 - 1899

Curator: Let’s take a look at this exquisite inrō titled "Case (Inrō) with Design of Curtains of State and a Woman's Fan." Created sometime between 1771 and 1899, the piece is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It's incredibly striking! The contrasting gold designs on that rich, dark lacquer… it almost shimmers. The scale too - you realize how small it actually is as a functional case. Curator: Precisely! These inrō were essentially status symbols. This one is meticulously crafted, using mixed media and carving on wood, along with ink. The design shows opened curtains and a lady's fan—both signifiers of the inner world of women from Japan. Editor: Thinking about that small scale… the labor involved must have been substantial. Each layer, each carefully applied fleck of gold. I wonder about the workshops where these objects were produced. Who were the craftspeople? Were they specialized laborers focusing solely on decorative lacquerwork like this? And the elite class who would purchase and parade them as possessions? Curator: An excellent point! Consider how objects like these played a role in the social display of wealth and power. Owning something so intricately made proclaimed your refined taste, of course, but also indicated a certain access to luxury— and likely alluded to their owner's association with classical themes drawn from Japanese literature and theatre. Editor: The positioning of the fan especially intrigues me. Does it suggest anything about social conduct? Who might be watching whom? And how might this reflect public life back in the Edo Period? I almost want to read the scenes depicted! Curator: Absolutely. This particular example reminds us how artworks can also become potent visual records, holding specific narratives. Editor: This little object certainly contains a complex story—about labor, value, and cultural norms that shaped even everyday life! Curator: Indeed! I appreciate you highlighting the multifaceted dimensions of such a compact artifact, revealing a great complexity about both creation and consumption of the decorative arts.