Japanese Antique Tobacco Pouch, Cockerel and Hen
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A Japanese lacquered agiro pipe case (kiseruzutsu) finely decorated with a cockerel and hen, signed Shinsen (?). The pouch is tooled leather with iron and silver cockerel and hen inlaid with a gold clasp. The ojime is shaped as Daikoku's mallet in unknown material. The actual color of pipe case is closest to the photo #11. 19th century, late Edo period. Dimensions: Pipe case, 8 1/2 " long, tobacco pouch, 5 1/4 " x 3 "
It is hard to make out the second character of the signature. It seems to be 'sen' and if so this may be the work of Suzuki Shinsen known to have been decorating inro in orthodox style in the early 19th century. He is recorded in Wrangham's "The Index of Inro Artists" with references to examples from the Corbin Collection (Drouot, Paris 1926) and information from Spink & Son, London.
*Ajiro is a woven wickerwork made out of strips of bamboo skin, cypress bark or Japanese reed.