A complete set of lacquer miniature two-case inro and matching hako netsuke representing the twelve calendar months


By Kajikawa Bunryusai II, active Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryComprising:First month: kinji (gold-lacquer), decorated in coloured takamaki-e and inlaid in shell with a hagoita (battledore) and hane (shuttlecock) on one side and an itomari (tasselled brocade ball) resting in front of chrysanthemums in a bowl on the other, the hako netsuke lacquered with a pair of origami cranes Second month: roiro (black-lacquer), decorated in gold and silver takamaki-e and inlaid in shell with a tsubame (swallow) flying beneath trailing branches of fuji (wisteria), both emblematic of mid or late spring, the hako netsuke lacquered with a bamboo oke (bucket) and fern Third month: kinji (gold-lacquer), decorated in gold takamaki-e and discrete details inlaid in shell with two tatebina (paper dolls) one side and two inubariko (papier-mâché dogs) resting in front of stalks of flowering cherry, standing for the Girls' Festival on the third day of the month, the hako netsuke lacquered with a pair of awabi (alabone) shells Fourth month: red-lacquer, decorated in gold and silver takamaki-e with an image of Inari, the Fox Deity, and an ema (Shinto votive picture) on one side and a stalk of plum and a wooden wand attached with gohei (Shinto papers) on the other, representing the festival held at Kyoto's Inari Shrine and elsewhere on the 20th day of the month, the hako netsuke lacquered with a plum blossom attached to a suzu (small bell) Fifth month: kinji (gold-lacquer), decorated in gold hiramaki-e, e-nashiji and shell inlay with a shobugatana (toy sword) on one side and a noshi (celebratory paper decoration) wrapped around a bunch of shobu no ha (iris leaves), standing for the Boys' Festival on the fifth day of the month, the hako netsuke lacquered with a kusudama (decorative silk-tasselled ball)Sixth month: rogin (shibuichi) nuri, decorated in gold hiramaki-e and inlaid in shell with a large Botan (peony) blossom lying across a straw hat on a hiogi (slatted court fan); compare the haikai poem by Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828): Ogi nite / shaku o toritaru / botan kana (On a courtier's fan, measuring it right across, a huge peony!) on one side and a straw rope attached with bells, daruma dolls, a drum and a purse inscribed Hi no yojin (Beware of fires) on the other, the hako netsuke lacquered with a sprig of peony Seventh month: roiro (black-lacquer), decorated in silver, gold and red hiramaki-e and inlaid in shell with bamboo, tanzaku (poem slips) and two itomaki (silk-winders) on one side, standing for the Tanabata Festival which marks the one day of the year when the Herd Boy and the Weaver Girl (the stars Altair and Vega) are allowed to meet, and a bunch of kaji (paper mulberry) leaves wrapped in paper with decorative bows on the other, the hako netsuke lacquered with two hozuki (Chinese lanterns) Eighth month: kinji (gold-lacquer), decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e and details in inlaid in shell with an usagi (rabbit) besides a tsuki (moon), tokusa (scouring rush) beneath a tsuki (full moon) standing for tsukimi (harvest-moon viewing) on one side and flowering autumn plants of kikyo (Chinese bellflowers), fujibakama (thoroughwort) and tokusa (scouring rush) on the other, the hako netsuke lacquered with a nasubi (aubergine) beside a cricket cage Ninth month: rogin-nuri, decorated in gold, silver and red takamaki-e with a stalk of flowering kiku (chrysanthemums) lying over a hiogi (slatted court fan), and sakazuki (sake cup), celebrating the national flower and emblem of autumn on one side and another stalk of flowering kiku besides a sakazuki on the other, the hako netsuke lacquered with a pair of flying geese Tenth month: kinji (gold-lacquer), decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e with details of e-nashiji and shell inlay with a tai (sea bream) in a basket on one side and a hat lying against a tsurizao (fishing rod) on the other, attributes of Ebisu, whose deafness prevents him from hearing the sound of the gong that summons all the other Shinto gods to the Grand Shrine at Izumo during this month, the hako-netsuke lacquered with a gourd and two cherry blossoms Eleventh month: brown-lacquer, decorated in gold, silver and shell hiramaki-e with a mask of Okame or Otafuku, Goddess of Mirth on a hiogi (slatted court fan) on one side and attributes of the Shichifukujin (Seven Gods of Good Fortune) on the other, items associated with the Tori-no-ichi fairs held at this time of year, the hako netsuke lacquered with a stalk of citrus fruits Twelfth month: kinji, decorated in gold and silver takamaki-e with a kine and usu (pestle and mortar), used to pound rice cakes for the New-Year celebrations on one side and ume (plum), kadomatsu (pine cuttings), and ebira (quiver), New-Year decorations on the other, the hako netsuke lacquered with a flowering stalkEach inro signed on the base Bunryusai; with a tiered wood storage box inscribed outside the lid Kajikawa saku junikagetsu maki-e soroe ko-inro (A set of maki-e small inro with design of twelve months made by Kajikawa). Each inro approx. 3.9cm (1½in) high. (13).