A black lacquer four-case inro with drum designBy Shohosai, Iwami Province, 19th century
The roiro ground embellished with mura-nashiji, decorated with a continuous design of a large gakudaiko dance drum, a bugaku dance hat and drum-sticks behind an ornate outdoor curtain, in shades of gold takamaki-e with details of gold foil and inlaid aogai, the interior of rich nashiji and kinji lacquer; signed Iwami Shohosai (Shohosai of Iwami) with a seal Tsune. 8.3cm (3¼in).注脚舞楽図蒔絵印籠　銘 「石見松甫齋」　19世紀

Published:
Lazarnick, NIA, p.1330.
Wrangham, TIIA, p.248.
Earle, Huthart, p.397, no.368.

According to E. Wrangham, Shohosai worked in the early part of the 19th century and made lacquer wares for Lord Kamei, the daimyo of Tsuwano in Iwami Province.