Inrō with Bamboo Grove 1700 - 1833

Editor: Here we have a piece entitled "Inrō with Bamboo Grove," made sometime between 1700 and 1833 by Shiomi Masanari. It's currently held at the Met. The deep black lacquer really sets off the golden bamboo, giving the piece a striking contrast. What first strikes you about this work? Curator: What a find, a miniature world! This "Inrō," a traditional Japanese case for holding small objects, isn’t just functional; it's a poem. I imagine the artist, Masanari, pausing in a quiet bamboo grove, not to replicate what he sees, but to filter it through his soul. The dark lacquer becomes a night sky. The bamboo design isn't merely decoration, it feels like whispers of resilience. Does the work suggest any narrative for you? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, as a kind of poem. I was just seeing the pretty gold on the dark. But resilience…bamboo bends, doesn’t break. I get it. Curator: Exactly! See, it's tempting to see just the elegant surface, but the inrō, worn on a sash, accompanied someone. Maybe Masanari was reflecting on life’s journey, with bamboo as a constant companion through light and shadow. Does it make you consider the function and artistic expression of practical objects in a new light? Editor: Totally. It's like a secret garden worn on your hip! A practical poem. I think I will appreciate everyday objects much more. Curator: I am so glad to have bent your perception! A whole other level of art in life, huh? This has made my day too!