Lot 266: A CIRCULAR LACQUERED WOOD KOGO (INCENSE BOX) AND COVER By Takano Shoz

A CIRCULAR LACQUERED WOOD KOGO (INCENSE BOX) AND COVER By Takano Shozan (1889-1976), Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, 20th century Of shallow form, the wood ground covered with clear lacquer and decorated with two butterflies of differing size, in gold takamaki-e and e-nashiji with black-lacquer details, signed Shozan; with a wood tomobako storage box inscribed Cho kogo (kogo with butterflies), the inside of the lid signed Shozan with a seal Shozan. 7.5cm (2 7/8in) diam. (3).

A native of Kumamoto in Kyushu, Takano Shozan graduated from Tokyo School of Art in 1916 and studied maki-e under Shirayama Shosai (1853-1923); he also learned the art of applying clear lacquer to wood or bamboo from Hashimoto Ichizo II (1856-1924) and is best known for his work in this combination of materials. He exhibited regularly at the Teiten, Shinbunten, and other official national exhibitions from 1927 to 1957 and in 1955 was among the very first artists to be named a Living National Treasure; from 1963 he served as President of the Nihon Shitsugeikai (Japan Lacquer Association).