Definition of inro in English:
inro
nounPlural inros ˈɪnrəʊˈinrō
An ornamental box with compartments for items such as seals and medicines, worn suspended from a girdle as part of traditional Japanese dress.
Example sentencesExamples
- It was fastened by a sash and personal items were carried in small containers known as inro, which hung from the sash, secured by toggles - netsuke.
- But the emphasis of his artistic and artisan production was on painted screens and on all kinds of lacquerware utensils - inro, boxes, cups, panels and screens.
- These ornaments were originally made to provide a way to secure tobacco cases, purses, or inro (medicine containers), which fashionable Japanese men suspended on silk cords at their waists starting about 1700.
- Metalwork and sword fittings are also displayed alongside examples of inro, which is a sectional case or box worn suspended from the obi by a cord on which the netsuke serves as a toggle.
- Wearing inro and netsuke became a part of the past for the upper classes and samurai.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Japanese inrō, from in 'seal' + rō 'basket'.