Lot 467

Japanese, 41 mm, 63 g, circa 1780
A rare verge pocket watch in a graven wooden case in the form of an inrō (seal or medicine box) with attached ivory netsuke
Case: firegilt. Dial: firegilt, silvered adjustable Toki indexes. Movm.: full plate movement, chain/fusee, three-arm brass balance.
The inrō consists of a number of tiny nested boxes that are stacked on top of each other; the boxes fit so closely into each other, that they are almost airtight. The top part functions as a cover. The inrō was originally intended as a container for messages, but over time it was used to keep coins, a personal seal or medicine while travelling. It was primarily used by men, because unlike the women’s clothing, their outfits usually did not have sleeve pockets; the little container was tied to the obi (sash) and the ends of the cord secured to a netsuke.
Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inr%C5%8D, as of 03/14/2019
Similar watches are illustrated and described in: Wilhelm Brandes "Alte japanische Uhren", Klinkhardt & Biermann 1976, page 124ff.

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