The lacquerwork by Koma Koryu and the metalwork by Ishiguro Masatsune, signed Koma Koryu 古満 巨柳 and Ishiguro Masatsune 石黒 政常
Japan, 19^th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The four-case inro of upright form with rounded edges bearing a roiro ground decorated with polychrome lacquer hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, e-nashiji, kirigane clouds and superbly inlaid in gold and silver with a Ranryo-o dancer and bugaku accessories as well as a pine tree. Signed to the underside within a silver cartouche ISHIGURO MASATSUNE beside the gold signature KOMA KORYU. The interior cases of nashiji with gold fundame rims.

With a cylindrical coral ojime.

LENGTH 6.5 cm, HEIGHT 9.5 cm

Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and typical losses to the kirigane flakes.
Provenance: Maurice Champoud Collection, collection no. 157 (according to label to the interior top case). Subsequently de-accessioned from the Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum, Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 2000 by Masayuki Murata, the Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum aims to increase the appreciation of Japanese art from the 19th to early 20th century and provide a source of inspiration for contemporary artisans.

Bugaku is a Japanese traditional dance. The defining elements of this dance were introduced through Southeast Asia to the Chinese Tang court and its use in Japan dates back to the Heian period and is still performed today. 

Koma is the family name of one of the most famous dynasties of lacquer artists. The dynasty was founded by Koma Kyui who worked in Edo in the 17^th century, and his descendants were lacquerers of the court and shogunate until well into the 19^th century.

Ishiguro Masatsune is listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on p. 983 (H 04752.0). Ishiguro Masatsune III used the art name Moritsune and succeeded the second Masatsune in 1829.

Auction comparison:
The Koma family frequently collaborated with famous metalworkers to create these types of inro during the 19^th century. For a related example signed Koma Kyuhaku and Ishiguro Masatsune see Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part I, 9 November 2010, London, lot 282 (sold for GBP 13,200). For a closely related gold lacquer metal-inlaid inro depicting the same subject, by Higashiyama Motonobu, dated to the 19^th century, see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 16 May 2013, London, lot 228 (sold for GBP 16,250).