Jakabffy Imre szerk.: Az Iparművészeti Múzeum Évkönyvei 13. (Budapest, 1971)

HOPP FERENC MÚZEUM - MUSÉE FERENC HOPP - Horváth, Tibor: Report on the Activities of the Hopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic Arts in 1969 and 1970

Fig. 10. Japan. Lacquered inrô of Shigenaga Nakaôji. A one-case, wide inrô with internal channels. Tin» inside is covered with dark nashiji. Tinlower part contains a small removable case. The outside of the inrù is decorated with an Ukiyoe scene in gold and silver logidashi on rô-iro nun ground. ( brans or geishas and hôkans (male entertainers) are walking through a narrow bridge: the hair of the h ok an s is dressed in the "mame-honda" style. In the background tea-drinkers are sitting on low platform tables set out in the stream. In the centre a lampion is hung on a bamboo pole, with the inscription Sbijö, Suzushii (ryô) on it. The river and the whole seem- is continued on the other side of the inrö. Besides the hôkans and geishas, a samurai is also discernible here. The background shows two pavilions and the sky is sparkling with firework. Apparently the whole scene refers to the Shi jő street and the Shijö bridge in Kyoto where the teahouses used lo set low platforms for the guests in the summer months, especially during the Gion matsuri. (G I. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore. Jinriksha davs in Japan. New York and London, 1891, p. 225). The bone netsuke is carved in the form of a Chinese dwarf and it is a later work of poor quality, the ojime is of wood or of some si one. It is decorated wild incised and red lacquered medallions, niit.su no tourne and various symbols. The inrö itself is of high-grade quality, the scene is carefully rendered in logidashi technique, and the figures are finely drawn. The bottom of the inrô shows the signature of Shigenaga (Möei) and a corresponding red seal. According to the list of Japanese lacquerers published by K. Herberts (Das Buch der ostasiatischen Lackkunst. Düsseldorf, 1959) Shigenaga worked between 1804—1829, that is in the Bimka and Bunsei eras. Length of the inrô: 7.8 cm. Height: 6.2 cm. luv. no.: 69.100.1—2. Representations of Ukiyoe-scenes appear rather rarely on inrô which fact increases the value of the inrô treated. In the 1914 "Exhibition of Japanese Art of Ihe Ukiyoe School"' in the Boston Museum of bine Arts an early 18th century gold lacquered inrö was shown. On this inrô several groups of tea-drinkers were represented sitting on low platforms. (Museum of Fine Arts Bulletin. Boston, Febr. 1914, p. 4).