We have just bought a lacquer writing-box at an auction on line. A writing-box (suzuribako) [硯箱] contained brushes, an ink-stone, ink-sticks and a water-dropper. Even during times when ostentatious clothes were banned in Japan, a writing-box was exempt from the restictions, and its decoration could reflect the status of the owner. The same argument was used with netsuke: although elaborate decoration may have been banned in clothing, a netsuke was an essential object to suspend an inro from, and even if it was elaborate, it was not a decoration.
There is an example of a writing-box in the British Museum (much grander than the one we have
bought).
bought).
Below are a couple of images from the auction catalogue.
We were hoping to buy a lovely silver inro from the auction, but we were beaten, and think that it is now going to China. It is a shame because it was really nice.