A lacquered wood three-case inro. By Ogawa Haritsu (Ritsuo, 1663-1747), 18th century. photo Bonhams

Decorated with a richly caparisoned elephant in gold and slight-coloured takamakie, the back cloth with a design of scrolling flowerheads, inlaid in pottery with aogai details, signed in seal form, in two inlaid pottery tablets Kan and Shoko (Naoyuki). 8cm (3 1/8in). Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000, JPY 1,200,000 - 1,800,000, US$ 16,000 - 23,000
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象図陶片貼付螺鈿蒔絵印籠　銘「観」「尚行」　18世紀

A very similar inro is illustrated in Inro and Netsuke, Epitomes of Edo Culture, The Inro Museum, Takayama, 1990, no.1.

Ogawa Haritsu, who is usually known by his sobriquet, Ritsuo, was one of the first artists to incorporate diverse materials into his lacquerwares, utilizing the excellent adhesive qualities of lacquer to combine glazed ceramic, metal, shell, and other materials with traditional maki-e techiques for lacquer decoration. A revival of interest in Haritsu's style and techniques during the 19th century is best exemplified in the copies of his work by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), the foremost Japanese lacquerer of the 19th century.

Bonhams. The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, London, New Bond Street, 8 Nov 2011 www.bonhams.com