A lacquer single-case inro By Ryusei, Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century The rich gyobu ground decorated in polychrome takamaki-e, depicting a snake, its mouth wide open in a hiss, its long body winding around a seated toad, the snake's scutes of silver lacquer, the toad of matt brown lacquer dappled with black and gold lacquer, the interior of red lacquer, signed Ryusei; with a black horn ojime. 9cm (3½in) high. 注脚 It is not immediately obvious that the toad has half swallowed a slug. The term sansukumi refers to the three creatures depicted. While the snake can devour the toad, and the toad the slug, both without adverse consequences, the slug carries a toxin which would poison the snake were it to ingest a toad that had swallowed a slug. For an inro with the same design by Kansai (presumably Koma Kansai), see J. Kurstin, Miniature Masterpieces: The Storytelling Art of Japanese Inro, Orlando, Fla., Walt Disney Imagineering, 1999, pp. 72-73.