Lot 245: A BLACK-AND-GOLD LACQUER KOGO (INCENSE BOX) By Uematsu Hobi (1872-1933)

A BLACK-AND-GOLD LACQUER KOGO (INCENSE BOX) By Uematsu Hobi (1872-1933), Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, circa 1915-1930 A circular kogo, both box and lid convex, fitted with silver rims, entirely covered in black lacquer and decorated in gold hiramaki-e, the top and bottom with stylized nadeshiko (pinks, Dianthus superbus) on a triple square lattice, the interior of lid and box each with two more naturalistic nadeshiko plants on a gold nashiji ground, the recessed base signed in incised cursive characters Hobi; with a wood tomobako storage box titled Nadeshiko kogo (Incense box with a design of pinks), the inside of the lid signed Furosai shujin with a seal. 8.7cm (3 3/8in) diam. (3).

Born in Tokyo the first son of the maki-e artist Uematsu Homin (1846-1899), Uematsu Hobi studied the technique of maki-e from his father and design from Kishi Kokei (1839-1922). Celebrated for his sophisticated pictorial style and immaculate technique, he is perhaps best known for a set of suzuribako and bunko with landscape design shown at the Paris Universal Exposition in 1900, but he won awards at numerous subsequent exhibitions, including the 8th, 9th, 11th, 13th and 14th Teiten (Imperial Art Exhibition). Furosai is the go (art name) of Uematsu Hobi used later in his career.