Inrō – Japanese Belt Ornaments

This richly illustrated publication documents approximately 250 inrō from the Anna and Christian Trumpf Collection.

Inrō are small, multi-compartment containers traditionally worn suspended from the belt (obi) with the help of a netsuke toggle. First appearing in the sixteenth century, they remained a distinctive element of Japanese men’s dress until the late nineteenth century.

Produced primarily in lacquer and often decorated with intricate figurative, symbolic, or narrative motifs, inrō offer valuable insights into Japanese craftsmanship, social customs, and aesthetic traditions. The volume combines detailed object studies with historical context and high-quality photographic documentation, making it an important reference work on Japanese belt ornaments and lacquer art.