Page 197 - Sotheby's Chinese Art and Porcelain Auction New York September 12, 2018

264

PROPERTY FROM A JAPANESE COLLECTION PROVENANCE
A MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID BLACK Japanese Private Collection.
LACQUER MEDICINE BOX According to an inscription by Sakuma Shōzan
MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY (1811-1864) on the Japanese wood box, the
present inlaid lacquer medicine box was in the
of rectangular form with two mounted metal collection of Dai Mangong (1596-1672), a late
handles suspended at the sides, the latched Ming dynasty scholar-monk from Hangzhou,
cover opening to reveal an integral tray, the who moved to Japan in 1653 and practiced
front panel latched and secured with a key medicine there. Dai was also known as Dokuryu
lock, the exterior of the cover and sides each Shoueki. According to the same inscription,
meticulously inlaid with shaped and incised the medicine box was subsequently in the
segments of mother-of-pearl forming a central collection of Mr. Shibuya. The last line of the
lobed cartouche enclosing an auspicious scene inscription includes the date it was written:
of the Eight Immortals, boys at play, or scholars tenpo sinchu natsu satsuki, corresponding to
at leisure in a garden all reserved against May 1841.
an inlaid diaper ground, the interiors of the
cover and front panel inlaid with calligraphic $ 8,000-12,000
inscriptions, an inlaid ß oral scroll wrapping the
bottom edge of the box, the interior with an 㖶⋩ᶫᶾ䲨ġġġ湹㺮⳴坢懧攳⃱Ṣ䈑
upper tray over one long and four short drawers ⚾喍䭙
(Japanese and later-added), the metal key Ը๕
with a fabric pouch both attached by a cord,
㖍㛔䥩Ṣ㓞啷
inscribed Japanese wood box (11)

Height 8⅝ in., 21.9 cm; Width 10⅞ in., 27.6 cm;
Depth 7⅝ in., 19.4 cm

195