Page 70 - Bonhams September 11 2018 New York Japanese & Korean Works of Art

1148
A FOUR-CASE LACQUER INRO AND A
LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE
The inro by Chikanao, Edo period (1615-
1868), 19th century, the netsuke Meiji
(1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era,
early 20th century
The inro lacquered in gold and silver
takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and togidashi-e
with a temple complex and rice fields before
distant mountains, the interior cases nashiji,
signed Chikanao and with a kao; the netsuke
carved as a monkey kneeling with a young
bamboo shoot resting on his shoulder,
decorated in colored lacquer
Inro: 3 1/8in (7.8cm) high; netsuke: 2in
(5.1cm) high
$1,500 - 2,000

1149
A CASE FOR EYEGLASSES AND A
CHANGE PURSE
Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th century
The glasses case of dark hardwood and
decorated with a Sanbaso dancer carved
in sunken relief and painted in polychrome
pigments and gilt, the hinged cover shakudo
with a gilt edge, the change purse textured
leather with a wood front panel carved in low
relief with Hotei’s treasure sack, Daikoku’s
mallet, and Ebisu’s basket containing a sea
bream, painted in polychrome pigments, the
clasp gilt and shakudo, illegibly signed
6 1/4in (15.7cm) long
1148 1150
$1,000 - 1,500
1150
YAMADA JOKASAI (ACTIVE 19TH
CENTURY)
A four-case lacquer inro
Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century
Of rounded rectangular form, lacquered with
a continuous
design of a mountainous Chinese landscape
with a waterfall, and an inkstone, brush and
fan resting on a rocky ledge to one side, in
gold, silver and slight coloured takamaki-e
with gold foil and kirikane highlights, the
interior of nashiji with kinji edges, signed Jo’o
and with a kao; fitted with a hardstone bead
ojime
3 9/16in (9.1cm) high

$1,200 - 1,800
The abandoned Chinese-style inkstone,
brush and fan are probably a reference to the
scholar-official Bao Zheng (999-1062) who
later became a popular hero in drama and
fiction. When posted to Duanzhou, an area
famous for its inkstones, he discovered that
previous magistrates had always collected far
more than they were allowed to but when his
own period of office was over he “went home
without taking a single stone.” It is uncertain
when and how this story reached Japan, but 1149
printed books may well have played a part.

FINE JAPANESE AND KOREAN ART | 69