YOYUSAI: AN EXQUISITE SMALL LACQUER FOUR-CASE INRO DEPICTING OKAME AND ONI AT SETSUBUNBy Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845/6), signed Yoyusai 羊遊齋 saku 作Japan, Edo (Tokyo), 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Finely decorated in gold and colored takamaki-e and hiramaki-e with e-nashiji and aogai inlays, one side with a rectangular kinji-ground panel enclosing Okame reaching into a sanpo (offering stand) to grab soybeans, the other with a circular nashiji-ground panel enclosing a fleeing oni, both panels surrounded by snow-laden bamboo stalks and leaves. The interior of nashiji with gold fundame edges. The base signed in gold lacquer YOYUSAI saku. With a gold lacquer ojime decorated with blossoming flowers and a metal-inlaid butterfly, signed Tenmin (Asama Tenmin) with an inlaid rectangular reserve. HEIGHT 5.6 cm (the inro) and DIAMETER 1.4 cm (the ojime)Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: French private collection, assembled in Paris during the 1950s and 1960s. The present inro alludes to the Setsubun festival, which is celebrated during the first day of spring and includes the rite of oni-yarai or mame-maki, where roasted beans are thrown at oni to rid the coming year of any demons and disease-bringing spirits.Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845/6) lived in Edo and worked under the patronage of Lord Matsudaira. He had an extensive workshop and a large number of lacquer objects were produced with his signature, or just with his kakihan. Yoyusai had many pupils, the most renowned being Nakayama Komin, who became famous in his turn for work in the style of ancient and classic lacquerers.