Lot 85: An Unusual LacquerSuzuribako[Writing Box]

An Unusual Lacquer Suzuribako [Writing Box] Signed Taishin (Ikeda Taishin (1825-1903)), Meiji period (late 19th century) The box with undulating cover simulating a node of bamboo, decorated in gold and black hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, ishime-nuri and inlays of gold foil and cut shell with bamboo leaves on a ground made from a layer of bamboo applied to the wood structure, the sides similarly decorated with leaves, the interior in greenish-brown seido-nuri (lacquer imitating bronze),shakudo water dropper in the form of a bamboo leaf, similarly decorated in gold lacquer and inlaid in gold foil and cut shell, two gold lacquered brushes and ink slate, the inside of the lid signed Taishin, tomobako with inscription Taishin saku and titled Chikuyo maki-e suzuribako [bamboo leaf lacquer writing box] 25.8cm. x 19.7cm.

25.8cm. x 19.7cm.

19th century

3rd National Industrial Exposition, Ueno Park, Tokyo, April - July 1890

Tokyo Kokuritsu Bunkazai Kenkyuujo Bijutsubu, Naikoku Kangyo Hakurankai bijutsuhin shuppin mokuroku, (Tokyo, 1996), p. 249, no. 604

Kosuge Kojiro Kitani Collection

The inside cover of the tomobako with inscription: Dai san kai naikoku kangyo hakurankai shuppin houjo koreni zokusu [praised in the third National Industrial Exposition], 1890 Shuppin-nin Kosuge Kojiro [exhibited (at the 3rd Domestic Industrial Exposition, 1890) by Kosuge Kojiro] Meiji niju-san nen hachi-gatsu kore wo motomu Kitani zo [Acquired in August 1890 by Kitani] Ikeda Taishin was born in Edo and in 1835 became Shibata Zeshin’s first lacquer apprentice, aged eleven. Taishin became an independent artist around 1870, approximately 25 years later. In 1896 he was appointed an Imperial Artist.