HOSETSU: A FOUR-CASE INLAID EBONY WOOD INRO DEPICTING A PERFORMANCE OF UTSUBO-ZARU (THE MONKEY-SKIN QUIVER)

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HOSETSU: A FOUR-CASE INLAID EBONY WOOD INRO DEPICTING A PERFORMANCE OF UTSUBO-ZARU (THE MONKEY-SKIN QUIVER) By Hosetsu, signed Hosetsu 寳雪 with kakihan Japan, 19th century, late Edo (1615–1868) to Meiji period (1868–1912) Of upright rectangular form and oval section, finely inlaid in aogai, stained bone, tortoiseshell, dark horn, and green stone, with details in black and gold takamaki-e, against carved a carved eboiny ground imitating basket weave, each side enclosed by a raised gold-lacquer border. The design depicts a performance of the kyogen play Utsubo-zaru (The Monkey-Skin Quiver). One side shows the daimyo dramatically drawing his bow, with a large covered arrow quiver (utsubo) strapped to his back, while the reverse depicts the kneeling monkey trainer protectively holding the monkey, represented by a child actor wearing a monkey mask and costume. Together, the two sides illustrate the play’s central confrontation, in which the daimyo demands the animal for its skin and threatens it with his bow when the trainer refuses. The interior with gold fundame rims, the lowest case fitted with compartments for an ink cake and a circular seal. Signed HOSETSU 寳雪 with kakihan. The inro suspending a bone ojime. HEIGHT 8.9 cm, LENGTH 5.6 cm

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