Human world
Tobacco pouches, boxes and pipe cases
Made by Ikko in Japan in about 1890
This carved tabako-ire is decorated with horn dragonfly and ivory leaves.
Accession Number 43.22.h6
Japanese men once wore swords to show off their wealth and status. In 1876 the Emperor banned the wearing of swords in public. The men started wearing large and beautifully decorated tobacco pouches (tabako-ire) and pipe cases, as tobacco was very expensive in Japan.
European visitors in the late 1800s also admired the pouches and bought them as souvenirs.