Page 146 - Bonhams May 2017 London Fine Japanese Art
P. 146
LACQUER WORKS OF ART
Various Properties
226* Provenance:
A LACQUERED-WOOD RYOSHIBAKO (DOCUMENT BOX) Sueyoshi collection (from label on storage box).
AND COVER Takei Morimasa (1842-1926), Himeji (see below).
By Ogawa Haritsu (1663-1747), Edo period (1615-1868), 18th century Hayashi Hidemitsu (from certificate of loan to Kyoto National Museum,
Of standard rectangular form, with inrobuta (flush-fitting lid) and 1997).
kakego (interior tray), supported on four bracket feet; the wooden lid
worked to give prominence to the grain and decorated in gold, silver, Published:
and red takamaki-e, pewter, silver, and shell with sparrows making a Kyoto Bijutsu Kurabu (Kyoto Art Club), Kyu Himeji-han danshaku Takei-
nest from a large leaf, a broken set of naruko (bamboo bird-scarers), ke zohin nyusatsu (Sale of property from the collection of the Baron
and sheaves of rice, part of the design reaching over both sides; Takei family of Himeji), sale date 7 July, 1928, lot 239.
the rounded chiri-i (edges) finished in polished lacquer, the rims gold Haino Akio, Ogawa Haritsu: Edo kogei no iki (Ogawa Haritsu: Chic in
fundame lacquer, the other surfaces fine hirame on a black-lacquer Edo Craft), Nihon no bijutsu (Arts of Japan), 389, Tokyo, Shibundo,
ground; sealed in red lacquer Kan; with a wood storage box titled 1998, pl.130.
Ritsuo saku jidai bunko (Stationary box made by Ritsuo).
9cm x 25cm x 32.2cm (3½in x 9 7/8in x 12 5/8in). (4). Ogawa Haritsu (formerly often referred to outside Japan by his
alternative name of Ritsuo) was among the first Japanese lacquer
£30,000 - 40,000 artists to establish an independent reputation outside of the hereditary
JPY4,100,000 - 5,500,000 craft dynasties of Kyoto, Edo, and Kanazawa. Following an early
US$37,000 - 50,000 career as a haiku poet, he is thought to have first turned his attention
to lacquer design in middle age and soon attracted a wide following
thanks to his novel choice of subject matter and pioneering and
imaginative use of unusual materials; at some point after 1710 he was
hired by Tsugaru Nobuhisa (1669-1747), lord of a domain in northern
Japan, for whom he worked until 1731.
The present lot demonstrates Haritsu’s penchant for bold designs and
striking textures, qualities that earned him success during his lifetime
and also sparked a revival of interest in his work during the latter part
of the nineteenth century when Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891) imitated
his inro made in the form of old Chinese ink cakes; ever since that time
both Zeshin and Haritsu have been particularly admired by collectors
outside Japan.
144 | BONHAMS For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.
