Page 175 - Bonhams May 2017 London Fine Japanese Art

264* (signature)
A LACQUERED GOURD AND LACQUERED SAKE CUP
Attributed to Umezawa Ryushin (1874-1952)
Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, early 20th century
Formed from a natural, narrow-waisted gourd, the polished surface
boldly encrusted with black, gold, and coloured takamaki-e lacquer
and shell depicting a cicada and a branch of oak with leaves and
acorns, the ebony or kurogaki stopper attached by a silk cord to a
turned wood cup with stylized floral designs, boldly inscribed in gold
lacquer Zeshin with a red-lacquer seal Koma; with wood storage box
titled Zeshin-o maki-e senbyo (Cicada and gourd in maki-e by the
venerable Zeshin)
The gourd 43cm (16 7/8in) long. (2).

£10,000 - 15,000
JPY1,400,000 - 2,100,000
US$12,000 - 19,000

Although this gourd bears an incongruously large signature Zeshin, we
believe it is more likely to be the work of Zeshin’s third son Umezawa
Ryushin. Ryushin worked closely with his father and from about 1886
until Zeshin’s death in 1891 had the job of treating paper with alum
so that it would be suitable for Zeshin’s lacquer paintings (such as
lot 179 in the present catalogue). After 1891 Ryushin left the Shibata
family and took his mother’s surname Umezawa, but spent the rest
of his career making lacquer wares in a version of the Zeshin style
and memorializing the great man in a 1940 exhibition catalogue and
a 1927 biography. For a suzuribako by Ryushin made from a gourd,
see Tadaomi Goke, Julia Hutt, and E. A. Wrangham, Meiji no Takara,
Treasures of Imperial Japan, Lacquer, Part II, London,
Kibo Foundation, 1995, cat. no.233. See also the preceding lot.

265*
A LACQUERED-PAULOWNIA RECTANGULAR TRAY
AND A SMALL WOOD BOX AND COVER
By Takai Tairei (1880-1971), Taisho (1912-1926)
or Showa (1926-1989) era, mid 20th century
Comprising a tray decorated with Rinpa-style crashing waves
lacquered in gold takamaki-e with tetsusabinuri texture over a
polished paulownia ground, signed in gold lacquer Tairei, with a
wood tomobako titled Mizu no zu kiribon (paulownia wood box with
a design of water), the inside of the lid signed Tairei tsukuru with seal
Tairei, 1.7cm x 26.1cm x 19.2cm (5/8in x 10¼in x 7½in); the second
a square box and cover lacquered with an uzumaki (spiral) motif
overlapping with gohei (strips of white paper used in Shinto rituals)
enclosed within a circle, the inside of the cover signed with seal Tairei,
carved on the base Ume [...] within a circle, 3.3cm x 8.4cm x 7cm
(1¼in x 3¼in x 2¾in), with a wood tomobako, titled Kamakura moyo
kobako (small box with Kamakura motif), the inside of the lid signed
Showa nijurokunen haru Tairei saku (made by Tairei in the spring of
Showa 26 [1951]) with seal Tairei. (5).

£800 - 1,000
JPY110,000 - 140,000
US$990 - 1,200

Takai Tairei was a pupil of Ikeda Taishin (1825-1903), the most
successful of Zeshin’s pupils, and also studied under Akatsuka Jitoku
(1871-1936), one of the leading lacquer artists of the time. Like Taishin,
Tairei produced many works in makie-e on wood in Zeshin style.
He exhibited at the fourth and fifth Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition)
in 1948 and 1949.

Illustrated on page 174.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot 264
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE JAPANESE ART | 173