Page 105 - Sothebys Fine Japanese Art London, November 2018

LACQUER FROM A NEW YORK PRIVATE COLLECTION LOTS 125-140

139 140

A SUZURIBAKO [WRITING BOX] A SUZURIBAKO [WRITING BOX]
MEIJI PERIOD, LATE 19TH CENTURY EDO-MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY
蒔絵硯箱、明治時代、19世紀後期 蒔絵硯箱、明治 – 江戸時代、19世紀
the rectangular base with overhanging cover with canted the rectangular box with rounded corners, overhanging cover
corners decorated in gold, silver and black togidashi-e, and silver rims, decorated in gold, silver and black hiramaki-e,
hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with cherry blossom in a hilly takamaki-e, kinpun, gold and silver foil and nashiji on a black
landscape, a poem above on a red lacquer ground, nashiji ground with pines and cherry blossoms among rolling hills,
interior fitted with inkstone and silver waterdropped, fundame the interior of the cover with houses in a woodland beside a
rims meandering stream, the rocks beside inlaid in gold nuggets,
22 cm, 8⅝ in. long fitted with silver waterdropper depicting plum blossom,
inkstone with fundame rims, two brushes, a paper pricker,
The scene depicted on the cover alludes to Mount Yoshino.
inkcake holder
On the cover are the first three phrases of a waka poem by 26.8 cm, 10½ in
Motoori Norinaga (1730 – 1801). The whole poem reads:
‡ £ 5,000-8,000
Shikishima no € 5,700-9,100 US$ 6,600-10,600
Yamato-gokoro wo
Hito towaba
Asahi ni niou
Yamazakura bana
If one asks
What is the spirit of Japan?
I would answer it is
Like the wild cherry blossoms
Shimmering under the morning light
‡ £ 3,000-5,000
€ 3,400-5,700 US$ 3,950-6,600

FINE JAPANESE ART 103