Anonymous

Meiji period 19/20th century

1868-1912

Box

A large Shibayama style lacquer storage box. The exterior is decorated in nashiji lacquer inlayed in ivory, mother of pearl and tortoise shell depicting swallows flying amongst flowering wisteria. Each corner has solid silver and hand carved embellishments of floral designs.

Swallows are associated with the season of spring. A sign of good fortune and things to come. Often paired with the willow tree or in this case the mountain wisteria a spring flowering plant.  

Size 330mm x 116mm x 116mm

Unsigned

Signed unknown maker

Edo/ Meiji period, 19/20th century

1850-1912

Kanzashi Hair Set

Ivory and wood kanzashi hair set in gold hiramakie with details in Kirigane, and aogai shell inlay. Water designed with flying stylized chidori (wave bird or dotterel) and flower motifs cover the comb and pin. The hand-carved waves have been dyed to highlight the wave paters often practice on ivory netsuke.

Signed unknown maker

Hairpin 162mm x 13mm

Hair comb 84mm x 37mm

 

Signed Koami Nagataka

Mid-Edo period, 18th century

1615-1868

Kobako

A small kobako box in two halves, one side in gold nashiji and takamakie depicting the legend of Shiba Onko. The other in black roiro ground with gold and silver togidashi maki-e showing a pine tree by a stream, on the lid and onaga “azure-winged magpie” and a kawasemi “kingfisher” on a riverbank surrounded by plants such as kohone “nuphar or spatterdock”, omodaka “arrowhead” and hasu “lotus”. The interior in nashiji with lacquered panel on the lid of a ho-o bird and kiri. Original polawana box and cloth bag for protecting the box when not in use.

Signed Koami Nagataka with kao

115mm x 196mm x 95mm

published: INRO and other miniature forms of Japanese art by Melvin and Betty Jahss

The legend of Shiba Onko that is depicted on the box is well known in Japan. The story is of Shiba Onko as a child playing by a riverbank with his friends while stumbling upon a huge urn of enormous demotions. The youngest child sitting on the rim of the urn falls in giving out a cry scaring the other children away, Shiba Onko master of himself does not flinch and patiently sits thinking of what he can do to save the child from within the urn. Seeing a large stone, he picks it up and thrusts it at the urn with all his might smashing it and saving the child.

Koami Nagataka was a well-known lacquer artist who worked during the second half of the 18th century and comes from a long line of lacquer artist masters. A family tree of the Koami school was published in “INRO and other miniature forms of Japanese art by Melvin and Betty Jahss”

Anonymous

Taisho period 20th century

1912-1926

Fubako

A fubako (letterbox) in gold and red togidashi maki-e on a black roiro ground with nashiji interior. The box lid depicts a floral design of flowers with a red Lily in full bloom. The Fubako box is designed to hold letters and documents safely having the lid held using silk cords to tie it down.

Unsigned

Size 226mm x 78mm

Anonymous

Edo / Meiji period 19/20th century

1800-1912

Pipe case

A lacquered kiseruzutsu pipe case decorated with black peony flowers and leaves on a mustard yellow ground. A solid silver articulated collar is attached to the neck for a cord to be attached. This would then be linked to a tobacco pouch.   

During the Edo period, Monks and Samurai smoked tobacco, they would often carry a kiseru in a special case called a kiseruzutsu. These objects were considered status symbols and would have been carried so that others could see them. Tobacco was an expensive import, which was considered and luxury for the rich.  

Size 260mm x 28mm

Unsigned

KUNISADA, Battle between Minamoto Clan and Taira Clan at Taikenmon, triptych, c.1814

Anonymous

Edo period 18th / 19th century

1615-1868

Kodansu

A three drawed Kodansu (portable cabinet) in black roiro lacquer striations on all sides and draws with bronze fittings and handle. This is of typical Edo period style for housing items of importance to keep safe while travelling.

The fittings all present the family mon (family crest) of the Minamoto clan. One of the largest and most important families in Japan. The Minamoto clan were direct descendants of the first emperor of Japan. In 1192 the clan was created to demote the relatives into the ranks of nobility due to the financial burden on the emperor. The name Minamoto means “origin” to signify the roots of the clan. This sage-dansu would have been used by a member of the clan when travelling the country as it was the common practice for families to put their mon on furniture and home utilities.

Unsigned

Size 200mm x 230mm x 300mm 

Cover of an issue of Le Japon Artistique, which he published from 1888 to 1891.

Anonymous

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Box

A large circular lacquer box imitating bronze metalwork. This extremely convincing box would at first sight seem to be made of bronze. The patina resembles the aged look of bronze even with the greening of oxidisation. Two squirrels are climbing in fruiting vines with a studded rim and flower patterns around the side. Interior in sparce nashiji makie.

Siegfried Bing far left 1889.

Although this box is not signed there is a retail label of the well-known art dealer Siegfried Bing. Born in Hamburg to an entrepreneurial family. He later moved to France in 1854 to help in the family ceramics business. Eventually marrying in 1868 and becoming a French citizen in 1876 he started to become heavily interested in Asia as Japan was opening up to the west.

In 1873 Bing became the head of the family enterprises in France, focusing on the import and export of art goods. To spread his love of Japanese art he created a monthly article called “Le Japon Artistique”. Published in English, German and French. Later becoming a large influence in the art nouveau movement.

Size 263mm x 263mm x 50mm

Unsigned

Label of Siegfried Bing

Signed unknown maker

Meiji / Taisho period, 19/20th century

1868-1926

Kanzashi Hair Set

A fine tortoiseshell and lacquer kanzashi hair set. Bearing a kinji ground with gold takamakie and details in Kirigane. Beautifully raised details of chrysanthemums lay overexposed transparent tortoiseshell allowing light to pass with amber shades of colour.

Signed unknown maker

Hairpin 152mm x 13mm

Hair comb 98mm x 42mm

 

Photo Nippon Yusen Kaisha from the book “Peoples Of All Nations”.

Anonymous

Edo/ Meiji period, 19/20th century

1615-1912

Miniature Kago


A miniature Kago (Palanquin) of typical tapering rectangular form, with carrying pole, lacquered all over in black roiro ground with cherry blossom mon and scrolling foliage in gold hiramaki-e, the sides with sliding doors painted on the interior with flying cranes and pine tree pictures and fitted with a silk mat, the whole mounted with bronze fittings.

This miniature palanquin (an enclosed conveyance on poles supported by bearers and used to transport a seated person) would have been displayed during the Doll Festival, which was dedicated to the young girls of the household, who often received sets of dolls and miniature furnishings of this type at birth or on their first birthday.

Unsigned

31cm x 33.5cm x 25cm

the carrying pole 92.7cm