Page 49 - 2019 September 11th Bonhams Lewis Collection Japanese and Korean Art NYC

557
AKATSUKA JITOKU (1871-1936)
An inlaid black-lacquer box and cover
Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926)
era, early 20th century
Of rectangular form with rounded corners
tapering to the base, decorated with a
continuous design of prunus in the manner
of Ogata Korin, inlaid in mother-of-pearl with
gold lacquer highlights and simulated pewter
against a roiro-nuri ground, the interior
nashiji, signed on the underside of the cover
in gold lacquer Jitoku tsukuru (Made by
Jitoku), the base nashiji, silver rims
With a wood tomobako storage box bearing
the label of Hayashi Kuhei, a leading Tokyo
dealer and craft entrepreneur
5 1/2 x 14 1/4 x 2 3/8in (13.9 x 10.7 x 6cm)
$2,500 - 3,500

Provenance
Previously sold, these Rooms, March 19,
2013, lot 2305 557

In common with many outstanding
lacquerers and other craft specialists of
his time, Akatsuka Jitoku’s education was
broad-based. He started studying with the
painter Kano Hisanobu—his first teacher—in
1885, a year before he entered his father’s
atelier and embarked on the arduous
process of acquiring the vast range of skills
required of an accomplished maki-e artist.
Akatsuka’s superb, uncompromising lacquer
technique and lively, flowing decorative style
won him many commissions. The present lot,
an unusual example of his work in the Rinpa
style pioneered by the painter and lacquerer
Ogata Korin (1658-1716), is likely to date
from the earlier part of his career.

558
A METAL-INLAID LACQUER
RYOSHIBAKO (DOCUMENT BOX)
Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th
century
Rectangular with a slightly domed cover
and decorated in iro-e takamaki-e against
a roiro-nuri ground with a dynamic design
of Musashibo Benkei (1155-1189) in the
dress of a sohei (warrior monk) as he is
about to confront Ushiwakamaru, the young
Minamoto Yoshitsune (1159-1189) on Gojo
Bridge, the fittings on his naginata (halberd)
and tachi (slung sword) embellished with
metal inlays, the interior decorated with
Ushiwakamaru’s fan in inlaid silver on a
nashiji ground
12 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 6 7/8in (32 x 26 x 16.5cm)
$6,000 - 8,000

Provenance
Purchased from Orientations Gallery, New
York, 1988

558

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF DRS. EDMUND AND JULIE LEWIS | 47