Description SHIOMI MASANARI: A SUPERB AND LARGE GOLD LACQUER FIVE-CASE INRO OF DAIKOKU RIDING A GIANT RATBy Shiomi Masanari, signed Shiomi Masanari 鹽見政誠Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The large five-case inro of upright rectangular shape and distinct oval profile, bearing a fine gold kinji ground and masterfully lacquered in iro-e togidashi-e depicting the lucky god of wealth Daikoku mounting a huge rat and pulling at its long tail, the rat seemingly unimpressed, extending to the other side where it calmly sits with its head slightly lowered. The interior compartments of nashiji with gold fundame edges. Signed to the lower left within a red-lacquered rectangular cartouche SHIOMI MASANARI. With a spherical amber ojime.SIZE 9.1 x 5.3 cmCondition: Good condition with minor wear to lacquer, few light surface scratches, tiny chips to edges of cases, some fine age cracks, a few tiny dents to the top of the top case. Some minor old repairs. Presents beautifully.Provenance: Formerly the property of the Strong Museum, donated by Margaret Woodbury Strong (1897-1969), a prolific collector and founder and namesake of the museum. The interior of the bottom case with accession no. '75.1953'.Shiomi Masanari (1647-1722) was a talented painter of the Kano school, however he is better known for his lacquerwork and the important family of lacquerers that he founded. Whether or not he was a pupil of Yamamoto Shunsho (1610-1682) as is widely believed, the Shiomi family also specialized in togidashi-e ('brought out by rubbing') lacquer of extremely high quality, as is exhibited in the present piece.Museum comparison:A near-identical six-case inro, formerly in the collection of William Sturgis Bigelow (1850-1926), is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, accession no. 11.9892.