Page 196 - Japanese Art Nov 9 2017 London

(suzuribako - interior)

(ryoshibako - interior) and a lacquered-wood outer storage box, the outer lids of both sets
of boxes inscribed respectively in gold lacquer outside Hagoromo
316 * maki-e on-ryoshi (Feather Robe maki-e document box) and Hagoromo
maki-e on-suzuribako (Feather Robe maki-e lacquer writing box), the
A MAGNIFICENT MATCHING SET OF LACQUERED wood tomobako boxes inscribed respectively in ink inside with the two
SUZURIBAKO (BOX FOR WRITING UTENSILS) AND parts of poem number 299 from the Shui wakashu anthology (circa
RYOSHIBAKO (DOCUMENT BOX) WITH DECORATION BASED 1005): Kimi ga yo wa ama no hagaromo mare ni kite and nazu to zo
ON THE NO PLAY HAGOROMO (THE FEATHER MANTLE) tsukinu iwao nara namu (In this our Sovereign’s reign celestial feather
By Fujiwara Ogetsu (died 1938), Taisho (1912-1926) mantles seldom descend: caressed, the rock yet wears not away), the
or Showa (1926-1989) era, circa 1912-1938 tomobako for the suzuribako signed Heian Ogetsusai kore o saku
Of standard rectangular form with rounded chiri-i (edges) and inrobuta (This was made by Ogetsu), with seal Fujiwara.
(flush-fitting lids), entirely covered in black lacquer and decorated The ryoshibako 18cm x 36.4cm x 44.1cm (7 1/8in x 14 3/8in x 17 3/8in),
mainly in gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, with many details the suzuribako 5.4cm x 23.8cm x 26.4cm (2 1/8in x 9 3/8in x 10 3/8in). (16).
executed in gold, silver, shakudo, shibuichi, and copper with shell,
gold foil (much of it in kirigane mosaic); the rims of silver, the bases of £20,000 - 25,000
dense nashiji, the decoration as follows: on the lid of the suzuribako JPY3,000,000 - 3,700,000
a pine-clad seashore with an abandoned hagoromo robe hanging US$26,000 - 33,000
from a branch, executed in the combination of metals described
above and with the character Kimi (My lord) from the poem inscribed Provenance
on the tomobako storage boxes (see below), on the interior of the Mito Family.
lid a seashore with clouds, gulls, and shells; the interior of the box
with similar decoration, fitted with a complete set of finest-quality
writing utensils finished in lacquer and metal, the metal suiteki (water-
dropper) in the form of two sailing boats; the exterior and interior of
the ryoshibako with further seashore scenes including pines, sailing
boats, fishing equipment, huts, fishing boats, gulls, and Mount Fuji
in the distance, with further characters from the poem inlaid in shell;
each unsigned; each with a plain inner wood tomobako storage box

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