A VERY RARE RYUKYU LACQUER THREE-CASE INRO DEPICTING FIGHTING BEARS AND CHRYSANTHEMUM, WITH A LACQUER HAKO NETSUKE ATTRIBUTED TO ZOKOKUUnsigned, the netsuke attributed to Tamakaji Zokoku (1806-1869) Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Of wide rectangular form, each side with a quadrilobed panel bearing a red-lacquered ground decorated in tsuikin (applied multi-colored lacquer) to one side with two bears fighting amid grasses under a craggy rock and to the other with blossoming chrysanthemums and rockwork, all against a neatly carved diapered shippo ground. The interior of red lacquer, the top case divided into three compartments and the middle case divided into two.The beautifully fitting 19th-century hako netsuke of rounded rectangular form, finely carved through an outer tsuikoku layer to the tsuishu ground with a meandering stream and leafy floral sprays, the sides with a rinzu (key fret) band, one short side with a hidden sliding cover. Unsigned, however attributed to Tamakaji Zokoku (1806-1869). The globular ojime with a marbled design.HEIGHT 8.5 cm, LENGTH 7.9 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, few minor age cracks, some wear to lacquer.Provenance: Ex-collection Michael Tomkinson, no. 1109 (label to interior).Museum comparison: Compare two related lacquer inro in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession numbers W.179:3-1922 and W.292-1921, the first signed Ikkan, dated 1750-1850, and attributed to the Ryukyu Islands.Auction comparison: Compare a related Ryukyu lacquer four-case inro, also dated 18th century, at Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part II, 10 May 2011, London, lot 184 (sold for 3,840 GBP).