Page 74 - Bonhams November 4 2021 Japanese art London

110*

A RARE, ELEGANT, AND UNUSUAL LACQUER KENDAI lacquered rectangular bunchin (weight) and a red-lacquered wood,
(LECTERN) IN THE FORM OF GAGAKU (TRADITIONAL custom-made tomobako signed on the exterior of the lid with a
large red seal Toyo and titled in gold lacquer on a silver rectangular
IMPERIAL COURT MUSIC AND DANCE) IMPLEMENTS
By Toyo (unknown), Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, panel Gakkigata maki-e kendai (Book stand in the form of musical
early 20th century instruments) and retaining the original elegantly cushioned and purple
Finely lacquered in gold iro-e takamaki-e and gold hiramaki-e and silk-lined interior. 42cm x 33cm (16½in x 13in). (5).
nashiji, formed from three assembled parts: the pedestal base
shaped as a rectangular drum fitted with a single frontal drawer, £7,000 - 8,000
the exterior sides of the drum embellished with stencil-like sprigs of JPY1,100,000 - 1,200,000
peony blossoms beneath a narrow border of butterflies alternating US$9,500 - 11,000
with wisps of cloud inlaid in shell relief, the narrow outer edges further
applied with silver-metal studs, raised on four short shippo-tsunagi- The juniritsu 十二律 (12 pitches) around the sides of the lectern
shaped (linked-cash) feet, which in turn supports two elaborate arms transcribe and read:
connected across the middle by a pair of drumsticks and across the
bottom by an oval panel decorated with two overlapping inscribed 黄鐘 (kosho) – A
shikishi-ban, one signed Toyo, the right arm in the shape of a hand 大呂 (tairyo) – A♯
drum, the left in the shape of a torikabuto (dancer’s cap), richly 太簇 (taiso) – B
lacquered in polychrome maki-e with geometric motifs and simulated 夾鐘 (kyosho) –C
tasselled adornments of the courtly instruments, details of silvered 姑洗 (kosen) – C♯
metal, both arms supporting the slightly sloping rectangular book rest 仲呂 (churyo) – D
for the placement of the music script, the left, right and front sides of 蕤賓 (suihin)– D♯
the reading table decorated in gold lacquer relief with the scattered 12 林鐘 (rinsho) – E
characters denoting the juniritsu (12-pitch scale, a standardized gamut 夷則 (isoku) – F
of 12 notes, also known as Chinese chromatic scale, see below), the
reverse edge of the book rest in the form of a ryuteki (dragon flute), 南呂 (nanryo) – F♯
無射 (bueki) – G
the underside of the lectern lacquered in gold hiramaki-e with stylised
butterflies, flowers and ferns surrounding a cockerel applied in silver 応鐘 (osho) – G♯
high relief within a circular panel, fitted with two hooks suspending
two removable, heavy, ornately beaded tasselled cords, with a silver-

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