A SUPERB SILVER SINGLE-CASE INRO DEPICTING PEONY, ATTRIBUTED TO UNNO SHOMINUnsignedJapan, Meiji period (1868-1912)The inro intricately crafted with blossoming peony to either side, the furled petals neatly incised, the back with a small leaf as well. Unsigned, however attributed to Unno Shomin (see auction comparison).The manju netsuke of rounded square form, of shakudo with a gilt border, decorated with a gold-inlaid cricket under flowers and grasses delicately carved in katakiri and kebori below a silver flat-inlaid moon, the reverse with a gold-inlaid seal reading Kakushi and a silver-inlaid foliate emblem. The signed ojime of globular form and inlaid in silver and copper with a fruiting prunus branch.LENGTH 4.6 cm (the inro), LENGTH 3.2 cm (the netsuke), DIAMETER 1.5 cm (the ojime)Condition: Good condition, minor wear, few small dents.Auction comparison:Compare a closely related silver two-case inro attributed to Unno Shomin and dated to the late Meiji period at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 12 November 2008, London, lot 366 (sold for 4,200 GBP).