Vintage Inden Wallet

A very elegant, simple inden  wallet in a traditional style. It measures approximately 9cm x 18cm.

The art of inden involves stencilling a lacquer design on to deer hide. It's now associated with Koshu in Yamanashi Prefecture but dates back many centuries in Japan. During the civil war period around the 16th century it was largely used on armour and other military items but in the following - more peaceful - Edo period it became popular for pouches, wallets etc. I'm not sure of the date on this piece but I'm thinking probably round the 1920s.  The green and red striped  basket weave stripes have been stencilled with ink/dye and the spots are stencilled over them with lacquer.  There is some slight discolouration on the inside but otherwise it's  in perfect, possibly unused, condition. 

Price includes GST and regular postage within Australia