Inro : Japanese Belt Ormaments The Trumpf Collection

The richly illustrated publication presents about 250 inrō from the Anna and Christian Trumpf collection. These small, multipartite receptacles for seals and medicine, which were attached to a belt with the aid of a netsuke, came into use in the 16th century and remained a prominent accessory in Japanese menswear until the late 19th century. The symbolic, often narrative decoration conveys a valuable insight into Japanese culture.
Each of the inrō studied in this book is accompanied by a technical and bibliographic description, the provenance of the object, and an explanatory comment.