SHIBAYAMA AND SHOKASAI: A VERY FINE INLAID FOUR-CASE INRO WITH SHISHI The lacquer work by Shokasai and the inlay by the Shibayama family, signed Shokasai and Shibayama Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) A four-case inro with a gold kinji ground, the front finely inlaid with a prancing mother-of-pearl Shishi, with meticulously incised bushy tail and curly mane, amidst rockwork executed in gold lacquer takamaki-e and with gold kirigane flakes. The reverse shows a waterfall and pinetree. Signed on the underside in gold SHOKASAI 松可齋 and within a motherof- pearl cartouche SHIBAYAMA 芝山. The interior of dense, fine nashiji. HEIGHT 8.1 cm Condition: Good condition with minor associated wear and surface scratches. Old restoration to the top of the top case. Provenance: French private collection, formerly Ader, 26 November 1962, lot 170 (old lot number inside the top case of the inro). Auction comparison: An almost identical inro sold at Christie’s, The William F. du Pont Collection of Netsuke and Inro, 1 November 1996, New York, lot 98 (4.370 USD).