Tabakoire (tobacco pouch)

This is a tobacco pouch made of gilt leather. Gilt leather was used to decorate the walls of palaces, churches and habitations of wealthy persons in Europe. It was introduced to Japan through the Dutch-Japanese trade in the Edo period. Even though gilt leather tobacco pouch was expensive in those days, it was popular among refined people. Kiseruzutsu (Japanese pipe case) is made of ivory and decorated with carved chrysanthemums and children. The fitting metal of the pouch is in the shape of the cherry blossoms and hina dolls, that are related to hina-matsuri (a Japanese traditional festival for girls in March).