Page 157 - Bonhams May 2017 London Fine Japanese Art

As on a number of fine works from this late period of traditional Even in Nara, our old capital that’s now an ancient village, the plum
lacquer decoration, the decoration of this set includes not one trees have all blossomed, their gorgeous colours unchanged.
but several classical 31-syllable waka poems, in this case from
the Kokinwakashu, the first and most prestigious of the imperially 40
commisioned anthologies:
Tsukiyo ni wa / sore to mo miezu / ume no hana / ka o tazunete zo /
219 shirubekarikeru
On a moonlit night I can hardly distinguish plum flowers from the
Aki hagi no / furue ni sakeru / hana mireba / moto no kokoro wa / moon; if we want to find them then we must seek out their fragrance.
wasurezarikeri
243
Autumn bush clover: when I see its blooms growing on last season’s
boughs I know it does not forget how it used to be before. Aki no no no / kusa no tamoto ka / hana susuki / ho ni idete maneku /
sode to miyuran
90
In the autumn fields are the flowery miscanthus really grassy hems?
Furusato to / narinishi Nara no / miyako ni mo / iro wa kawarazu / Their ripe ears beckon me, looking like court ladies’ sleeves.
hana wa sakikeri

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot FINE JAPANESE ART | 155
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.