Page 60 - Bonhams Fine Japanese Art London Nov. 2019

(interior of lid)

93 *
A GOLD-LACQUER RYOSHIBAKO sealed Koami; with an inscribed cloth wrapper and wood storage
(DOCUMENT BOX) AND COVER box inscribed Hirameji kosaku maki-e onryoshibunko (Hirame ground
By Ema Chuji (also known as Ema Chokan 1881-1940), maki-e document box with design of rice cultivation).
Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, early 20th century 14cm x 39cm x 32cm (5½in x 15 3/8in x 12½in). (4).
Of standard rectangular form with inrobuta (flush-fitting lid), entirely
covered in rich gold hirame and kinpun, decorated predominantly in £4,000 - 6,000
gold and silver takamaki-e and gold okibirame, e-nashiji and togidashi JPY530,000 - 790,000
maki-e depicting the sequential process of rice cultivation, on the US$4,900 - 7,400
lid in the foreground a farmer holding a rake standing in front of a
thatched dwelling sheltered beneath a pine tree by a stream coursing Born in Fukushima Prefecture a pupil first of the Osaka comb-
through grassy banks, on the right figures carrying sheaves of rice lacquerer Onishi Shunsai and then of Yamamoto Rihei V and VI,
and others picking the rice crop, a waterfall flowing down mountains Ema Chokan became a professor at the Kyoto City School of Arts
in the distance; the inside of the lid with the Meoto Iwa (‘Married in 1916 and received his first Imperial commission in 1919, a bundai
Couple Rocks’) in the sea at Futamigaura Bay, joined by a shimenawa (writing table set) for the future Showa Emperor’s coming-of-age
(sacred straw rope), the front and sides of the box depicting more ceremony. An important figure in the Kyoto lacquer world, he exhibited
figures threshing and hulling, the inside and underside of the box of at the Teiten national salon on four occasions from 1928-1934.
rich nashiji; signed inside the lid Chokan saku (Made by Chokan) and

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
58 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.