Page 74 - Fine Japanese Art Bonhams London May 2018

164 *
A LACQUERED AND INLAID
SUZURIBAKO (BOX FOR WRITING
UTENSILS) AND COVER
Edo period (1615-1868), early 19th century
Of standard rectangular form with kabusebuta
(overhanging lid), entirely covered in black
lacquer, the exterior of the lid decorated in
thick applied pewter and gold and coloured
hiramaki-e with a boatman wearing a medieval
court cap and poling a boat through stylized
waves, the interiors with stylized pines in gold
(interior) hiramaki-e, the box fitted out in typical Rinpa
style with the suzuri (ink-grinding stone) and
suiteki (water-dropper) set into a panel to the
left and a slot for the brush on the right; with
a lacquered-wooden storage box. 5.2cm x
24cm x 26.4cm (2in x 9½in x 10 3/8in). (5).

£1,500 - 2,000
JPY230,000 - 300,000
US$2,100 - 2,800

This motif, a version of which can be found in
Korin hyakuzu (1815), a woodblock-printed
compilation by Sakai Hoitsu of designs
by Ogata Korin, refers to the Noh play
Hakurakuten which narrates the Chinese poet
Bo Juyi’s fictional visit to Japan; for a digital
version see http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/
164 pid/850491.
165 *

A LACQUERED SUZURIBAKO (BOX FOR
WRITING UTENSILS) AND COVER
Meiji era (1868-1912),
late 19th/early 20th century
Of standard rectangular form with kabusebuta
(overhanging lid), entirely covered in black
lacquer, the exterior of the lid decorated in
gold and hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, kirigane,
and other techniques with a seaside scene
with Mount Fuji in the background and
sailing boats, waves, pines, and gulls in
the foreground, the interior of the lid with
a large silver-inlaid crescent moon with
autumn plants including hagi (bush clover,
(interior) Lespedeza bicolor), ominaeshi (valerian,
Patrinia scabiosifolia) and chrysanthemum,
all against a gold mura-nashiji ground which
extends to the interior of the box, fitted with
a partially gold-lacquered suzuri (ink-grinding
stone) and a rectangular silver suiteki (water-
dropper); with a wood tomobako storage
box inscribed inside Shu Meiji sanjurokunen
chuto daijuichigatsu Kuwano Ishi (Fine quality;
November 1903, Kuwano Ishi). 4.2cm x
21.5cm x 23.5cm (1 5/8in x 8½in x 9¼in). (6).
£1,000 - 1,500
JPY150,000 - 230,000
US$1,400 - 2,100

165

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