Page 53 - 2019 September 11th Bonhams Lewis Collection Japanese and Korean Art NYC

564
UEMATSU HOBI (1872-1933)
A lacquer suzuribako (writing box)
Showa era (1926-1989), circa 1930
The square box with rounded corners and
a slightly domed cover, decorated in gold
hiramaki-e, togidashi maki-e and nashiji
on a roiro-nuri ground with bush warblers
flying above a stylized plum tree and young
bamboo, the blossoms and the trunk of
the tree embellished with uta-e (cursive
characters) from a classical poem, the
interior decorated overall with branches of
blossoming plum and pine, the removable
tray fitted with an inkstone and a silver water
dropper cast as a water kettle decorated with
pine boughs raised in relief, and two writing
brushes, a paper knife, and a paper pricker,
all decorated in fundame and kinpun
With a wood tomobako storage box signed
Furosai Shujin saku (Made by Furosai Shujin)
and sealed Muidojin and Hobi and inscribed
with a poem on the theme of plum blossoms,
by Ki no Tsurayuki (circa 872-945)
10 7/8 x 9 5/8 x 2in (27.5 x 24.5 x 5cm)

$12,000 - 18,000
Provenance
Previously sold, Christie’s, New York,
September 11, 2012, lot 93

The use of the art-name Furosai indicates
that this box dates from the closing years of
Hobi’s career.

(interior view)

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF DRS. EDMUND AND JULIE LEWIS | 51