A black-lacquer two-case inro, manju netsuke in the form of a honey bee on a chrysanthemum and ojime in the form of a cicadaThe inro and netsuke by Shokansai, Iwami Province, early 19th century; the ojime, early 19th century
The inro of roiro ground sprinkled with mura-nashiji, lacquered to one side with a dragonfly, the wings of gold foil and the eyes of pale horn, the reverse with a firefly, its body of luminous green lacquer, and a small butterfly, the interior of red lacquer, the risers of nashiji, signed Iwami mitsuro sei Shokansai (made by Shokansai using beeswax from Iwami) with a red lacquer pot seal Nobu, 6.7cm (2 5/8in); the manju netsuke of gold and coloured takamaki-e, depicting a honey bee resting on top of the chrysanthemum head, the stem of gilt, the interior of red lacquer, signed Iwami Shokansai (Shokansai of Iwami), 4.5cm (1¾in); the small metal ojime of a cicada with multicoloured enamelled wings, unsigned, 1.9cm (¾in). (3).注脚昆虫図蒔絵印籠　銘 「石見密蝋製松間齋」　19世紀前期
蒔絵饅頭根付　菊花に蜜蜂　銘 「石見松間齋」　19世紀前期
虫形金属緒締　無銘　19世紀前期

Published:
Lazarnick, NIA, pp.1330-31.
Wrangham, TIIA, p.250 (inro signature only illustrated).
Rokusho 20, p.85, no.127.
Earle, Huthart, pp.394-95, no.366.