Page 126 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

125 | TATSUKE TAKAHIRO: A FINE LACQUER
SUZURIBAKO (WRITING SET)

By Tatsuke Takahiro, signed Tatsuke-shi Takahiro with seal Tatsuke
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The suzuribako (writing set) decorated on the cover with a charming
image of five puppies executed in various lacquer techniques
below togidashi-e flowers, all against a roiro ground. The design is
likely inspired by drawings of puppies by the artist’s contemporary
Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795). The inside of the lid is lacquered in
fine gold nashiji below takamaki-e and hiramaki-e of various colors
depicting a basin with rockwork and a bonsai tree, a bird perched
on the edge. The inside shows further dense nashiji, some leafy
bamboo within a removable tray, and the original signed inkstone
and the gilt brass suiteki (water dropper) in the shape of a preening
duck, both inset into a further removable structure. Signed to the
inside of the cover on the rim Tatsuke-shi, TAKAHIRO and sealed
Tatsuke [Tatsuke Takahiro, Tatsuke family, with seal Tatsuke].
Two of the artist’s lacquer works (one suzuribako with samurai
Kikuchi Taketoki, and one bunko box with phoenix and figures)
were in the Choshunkaku collection which was assembled by a AUCTION COMPARISON
Zaibatsu industrialist, a member of the House of Peers (Kizoku-in), Another suzuribako by this rare artist was
Baron Kawasaki Shozo (1837-1912).
sold at Christie’s, Asobi: Ingenious Creativity,
Japanese Works of Art from Antiquity to
SIZE 23.4 x 21.3 x 4.5 cm
Contemporary, 15 October 2014, London,
lot 67 (sold for 23,750 GBP).
Condition: The lid with some restoration to the edges, the exterior
with some wear to lacquer, and the underside with surface
scratches. Estimate EUR 3,000
Provenance: British private collection. Starting price EUR 1,500

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