Three Japanese Inro and netsuke, [3], 1] Japanese INRO with flying Stork design and NETSTUKE, Edo period, c. 1750-1850, black lacquered and gold MAKIE with a flying stork on the red lacquered wooden ground the reverse has a pine tree, bone NETSUKE in the form of a woman with basket, OJIME: stone, 2] Edo gold MAKIE foliage with small figure carrying a lantern made with mother of pearl shell inlay on a GURI MAKI ground, Edo period, c. 1750-1850, small figure carrying a lantern on a bamboo pole and foliage, NETSUKE: Kazuno (deer horn) in the form of a flowering fruit, OJIME: green stone, 3] Edo lacquer INRO with bone NETSTUKE, Edo period, c. 1750-1850, black lacquered and gold MAKIE with river and Foliage design on both sides, bone (Kotsu) NETSUKE in the form of a flute and glass OJIME, Japanese traditional robes lacked pockets, objects were often carried by hanging them from the obi, belt or sash. Inro consist of a stack of tiny, nested boxes. They were most commonly used to carry identity seals & medicine. They were made by experts & known artists in a variety of material, mostly of wood covered by lacquer & then delicately painted or inlaid. The stack of boxes is held together by a cord that is laced through cord runners down one side, under the base, and up the opposite side. The ends of the cord are secured to a netsuke, a kind of toggle that is passed between the sash and pants, then hooked over the top of the sash to suspend the Inro. An ojime, or bead, is provided on the cords between the Inro and netsuke to hold the boxes together. This bead is slid down the two suspension cords to the top of the Inro to hold the stack together while the Inro is worn. The Inro & netsuke are an example of the highest artistic abilities of Japanese artists working in small scale objects. Provenance: Todd Barlin collection. 7 x 5 cm, 6 x 6 cm, 7 x 5.5 cm