Japanese rare pocket watch in a graven wooden box Circa 1780

Open faced verge pocket watch
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A rare Japanese verge pocket watch in a graven wooden case in the form of an inrō (seal or medicine box) with attached ivory netsuke, circa 1780.
Firegilt case; firegilt dial with silvered adjustable Toki indexes and Breguet hands; full plate movement, chain/fusee and a three-arm brass balance.
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Diameter: 41 mm
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Weight: 63 g
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Signed: No name
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The inrō consists of a number of tiny nested boxes that are stacked on top of each other; the boxes fit so closely into each other, that they are almost airtight. The top part functions as a cover. The inrō was originally intended as a container for messages, but over time it was used to keep coins, a personal seal or medicine while travelling. It was primarily used by men, because unlike the women’s clothing, their outfits usually did not have sleeve pockets; the little container was tied to the obi (sash) and the ends of the cord secured to a netsuke.
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Similar watches are illustrated and described in: Wilhelm Brandes “Alte japanische Uhren”, Klinkhardt & Biermann 1976, page 124ff.