Inro

An inrô on display at the Asian Art Museum

• Japanese: 印籠 (inrou)

Inrô are small tiered boxes typically hung from one's belt, and used to carry a personal seal, and other small objects, including medicines. A string connects the sections, allowing it to be opened, and to be pulled closed. A small bead called an ojime was used to pull it closed, while a toggle known as a netsuke was attached to the end of the string from which the inrô hung, allowing it to be hung from one's belt (obi) without it falling through.

Inrô were often made of lacquered wood, and commonly with a maki-e decoration, though a wide range of variations existed.

References

• Gallery labels, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.