Inro with lotus flower and bird c. 1800

This is a small, elegant inro, decorated with a lotus flower and bird, likely crafted by the artist Shigehide. It has a polished dark lacquer surface, against which a scene unfolds in shimmering gold and subtle colours. Notice how the composition is structured around the vertical form of the lotus, its leaves arching with delicate, linear detail. The bird, caught mid-flight, introduces a dynamic counterpoint to the stillness of the lotus. Shigehide uses the inro's segmented structure to divide the pictorial space, almost creating a narrative sequence as the eye moves up and down. The use of gold is particularly striking. It is not merely decorative but structural, defining the forms and creating a sense of depth against the dark ground. The lotus and bird motifs are traditional, yet here, their arrangement and the texture of the lacquer give them a fresh, almost abstract quality. Consider how this interplay of form and material invites us to reflect on themes of nature, movement, and stillness, all within the intimate scale of this object. This inro is an exercise in refined aesthetics.