A gold-lacquer three-case inro By a member of the Inaba Family, 19th century The nashiji ground with hirame highlights, lacquered with a straw snake, among fern and pine branches, with an uchiwa (fan) below, the reverse with a fish-head and holly on a sanpodai (food stand) with a box at the side, all in gold and slight coloured takamaki-e, the interior of red lacquer with a dusting of gold powder; signed Inaba saku. 7.3cm (2 7/8in) high. Footnotes: リザーブ設定無し 新年祭図蒔絵印籠　銘「稲葉作」　19世紀 Provenance: purchased at Christie's, Amsterdam, 1985. Wrangham collection, no.1748. Published: E. A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists, 1995, p.90, Inaba, left column, bottom left. The subject alludes to the New Year Festival, the addition of the straw snake probably representing the year in which the inro was produced. The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art: Part IV, lot 263. www.bonhams.com/auctions/20493/lot/263/ Lot to be sold without reserve. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com