Lot 4: A Lacquer Accessory Box ( Tebako )

A Lacquer Accessory Box (Tebako)
Taisho Period (Early 20th Century), Signed Akatsuka Jitoku Zo [Akatsuka Jitoku (1871-1936)]
Of rectangular shape with rounded corners designed on the cover and sides with peony-like flowers (shakuyaku) below an imperial sixteen-petal chrysanthemum medallion, the blossoms of purple and white created by pieces of inlaid shells and of gold lacquer and the leaves and veins of the leaves and stems of two colors of gold takamaki-e enriched by kimpun and okibirame, the chrysanthemum medallion kinji and the ground kimpun, the interior and base nashiji and the rims silver, signed on the undeside of the cover in gold lacquer
10 7/8 x 9 1/8 x 5 7/8in. (27.6 x 23.1 x 15cm.)

For a similar box see Jan Dees, "Japanese Imperial Presentation Boxes 1900-1930," Oriental Art 43, no. 1 (1997): 2--9; Dees, "Imperial lacquer boxes by Akatsuka Jitoku," Andon 30 (1988): 103--110.

This exquisite object was selected by Emperor Taisho as an official gift presented on the third day of the eleventh month, the anniversary of the birth of his father, Emperor Meiji, celebrated today as Bunka no hi (Culture day). Among the few imperial lacquer pieces known to survive from the hand of this artist, the opulent presentation box shown here stands out as a work of exceptional beauty. One Jitoku box in the collection of the British royal family at Buckingham Palace was given by Emperor Meiji to Queen Mary in 1911. The first presentation boxes are thought to date from the turn of the century and they are almost always adorned with large imperial chrysanthemum crests.

Akatsuka Jitoku, born in Tokyo, was the seventh generation of a family of lacquer craftsmen. In addition to this training in maki-e from his father, he learned Nihonga painting from Kano Hisanobu and Terazaki Kogyo (1866-1919) and later went on to study Western-style painting at the Hakubakai Kenkyujo (Institute of the White Horse Society) in 1912. As a result he was able to uniquely modernize his craft by adding a captivating element of Western naturalism to his otherwise very traditional, conservative lacquer techniques. He also worked hard to elevate lacquer into a category that would be included in the Teiten exhibitions. Jitoku won the gold medal at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. He was active throughout the Taisho and early Showa periods not only as a leading lacquer artist but also as a judge at several exhibitions. In 1930 he was appointed Imperial Artist, a member of the elite Teikoku geijutsuin (Imperial Art Academy).