Inrō with Picture of a Demon Exorcism

This is an inrō, a carrying case used for items such as medicine. It is comprised of four sections, and a design of the legendary Japanese folk-tale hero Momotarō and his companions are pictured within the frame. This inrō is made of wood coated with lacquer and shows Momotarō, a monkey, and a Japanese pheasant holding a banner. On the back, there is a dog and treasures such as coral, an orb, a straw raincoat, and a small mallet depicted in maki-e (gold and silver lacquer). The netsuke (string clasp to keep the inrō close to the waist), made of ivory and ebony, shows a figure lying on its side. It was made in the 19th century.