Inrō in the Shape of a Tobacco Case (tabako-ire) with Flowering Plum

Inrō in the Shape of a Tobacco Case (tabako-ire) with Flowering Plum

Matsuda Sukenaga

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Matsuda Sukenaga, a craftsman of the Hida school of netsuke carvers, cleverly carved and lacquered this inrō to imitate the appearance of a leather tobacco case. Lacquer artists often liked to test their skills by imitating textures of other materials.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Inrō in the Shape of a Tobacco Case (tabako-ire) with Flowering PlumInrō in the Shape of a Tobacco Case (tabako-ire) with Flowering PlumInrō in the Shape of a Tobacco Case (tabako-ire) with Flowering PlumInrō in the Shape of a Tobacco Case (tabako-ire) with Flowering PlumInrō in the Shape of a Tobacco Case (tabako-ire) with Flowering Plum

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.