A FINE MIXED-METAL-INLAID GOLD LACQUER FIVE-CASE INRO WITH A FINE INLAID AND LACQUERED STAG ANTLER MANJU NETSUKE BY JIYOSAIThe inro unsigned, the netsuke by Jiyosai, signed Jiyosai 慈羊斎Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Of rounded rectangular form, bearing a gold nashiji ground finely decorated in gold and aokin, takamaki-e, kirigane, and mixed-metal takazogan to depict a man standing on the thatched roof of a hut, carrying a basket and picking fruit from flowering prunus trees, while a young boy looks up toward him from below, the other side with further houses and trees.The two-part stag antler manju netsuke beautifully matching the inro and finely decorated in gold and black takamaki-e as well as gold and silver takazogan to depict a flying ho-o bird and a cluster of leaves and flowers amid scrolling vines, the underside and interior with the himotoshi, the underside signed JIYOSAI. The coral ojime of globular form.HEIGHT 9.8 cm (the inro), DIAMETER 3.2 cm (the manju) and 1.2 cm (the ojime)Condition: Excellent condition, minor wear, the stag antler manju with natural imperfections.Provenance: Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, June 2010. A private collection in New York, USA, acquired from the above.