Page 255 - Fine Japanese Art Auction November 2 2019 Galerie Zacke

319 | NORIYUKI: A RARE IRON
AND MIXED METAL THREE-CASE INRO
OF OMI HAKKEI
By Hamano Noriyuki II (Kuzui II) (1771-1852), signed Kuzui
Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Marcus Huish, Japan and its Arts, 1889, p.9.
J. F. Blacker, The ABC of Japanese Art, 1911 (reprinted 1929),
p.139.

Made from iron and inlaid in gold, silver, copper, shakudo and
shibuichi. The top and base is shibuichi and the risers and interior
are made from silver. Depicted is the Omi Hakkei (Eight views of
Lake Biwa), which is inspired by the traditional Chinese motif of
Chinese Xiaoxiang Bajing (The Eight Views of Xiao and Xiang), and
show a series of views around the southern part of Lake Biwa,
Japan’s largest lake a few miles northeast of Kyoto. The views
are: Evening Glow at Seta, Sunset Sky at Awazu, Autumn Moon at
Ishiyama, Returning Sailboats at Yabase, Evening Bell at Miidera,
Night Rain at Karasaki, Descending Geese at Katata, Lingering Snow
on Mount Hira. Signed at the top on an inlaid gold tablet NORIYUKI
ᆩΐ (Kuzui).
HEIGHT 7.7 cm, WIDTH 4.8 cm
Condition: Very good condition. The silver is slightly worn on the
risers.
Provenance: Edward Gilbertson collection. Axel Petersen collection,
purchased at Sotheby’s, London, 1970. Wrangham collection, no.
1001.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-

318 | A FINE FOUR-CASE INLAID LACQUER INRO
WITH A SCENE FROM A NOH PLAY
Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A gold lacquered inro, decorated on one side with a scene from
the play Okina, the dancer holding a fan and wearing a Hakushiki-jo
mask finely inlaid in ivory. His dress is ornately decorated in gold
and silver takamaki-e and togidashi-e. The reverse shows a Samurai
watching the play next to an attendant who is holding a parasol
above him. The details in takamaki-e, togidashi-e and inlays in ivory
and horn. The inside with dense nashiji.

HEIGHT 8.8 cm, WIDTH 5.7 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor scratching to lacquer
ground and miniscule wear to riser edges.
Provenance: French private collection with old label reading ‘Japon’
and ‘62’.

Auction comparison: Compare to a very similar inro by Kogyokusai
sold by Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art from the Edward
Wrangham Collection (Online only), 9 July 2018, London, lot 112.
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

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