Page 46 - Bonhams May 16, 2019 London Japanese Art

60
A SHELL-INLAID RECTANGULAR SUZURIBAKO
(BOX FOR WRITING UTENSILS) AND COVER
Edo period (1615-1868), mid-19th century
The outside of the cover entirely inlaid in shell with eight stylised
hoshibachi-mon (plum-blossom crests) scattered over the surface and
bordered all around by irregular shell kirikane flakes, the inside of the
cover decorated in gold and silver takamaki-e with a stag amongst
windswept autumnal plants of susuki (pampas grass), hagi (bush
clover), ominaeshi (valerian) and kikyo (Chinese bellflowers) on a rich
mura-nashiji ground, the inside of the box similarly lacquered with
a fitted detachable tray decorated with autumn plants and grasses
containing a suzuri ink-grinding stone and a silvered-metal oval suiteki
(60 - interior) (water-dropper); unsigned.
4.5cm x 26.2cm x 19.5cm (1¾in x 10 3/8in x 7 5/8in). (5).
£3,000 - 5,000
JPY440,000 - 730,000
US$3,900 - 6,500
61
A SILVER-LACQUER ROUNDED RECTANGULAR BOX
AND COVER
Style of Shibata Zeshin, Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1900
The inrobuta (flush-fitting) cover lacquered with an intentionally mottled
and matt ginji-nuri (silver-lacquer) ground decorated with large vine
leaves lacquered in sabiage-nuri, entwined tendrils and a bunch of
grapes in black takamaki-e with details in gold hiramaki-e, the design
extending over the sides, the interior of rich deep reddish gold nashiji;
unsigned. 5.5cm x 17.4cm x 12.7cm (2 1/8in x 6¾in x 5in). (2).

£3,500 - 4,000
JPY510,000 - 580,000
US$4,600 - 5,200

62
A FINE GOLD-LACQUER TWO-TIERED JUBAKO
(PICNIC BOX) AND COVER
By Hotokusai Kakushu, Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1900
60 The simulated mokume (wood-grain pattern) ground lacquered in
gold togidashi maki-e and inset with several trompe-l’oeil clam shells
with the surface ‘scooped out’ and built up to accommodate the
interiors enclosing different bird-and-flower scenes including a pair of
pheasants besides peonies and an egret standing by lotus flowers,
and figures scenes including Chapter 24, Kocho (Butterflies) from Genji
monogatari (The Tale of Genji) and Chapter 9, Yatsuhashi (The Eight-
Span bridge) from the Ise monogatari (The Tales of Ise), decorated in
takamaki-e, kirikane and togidashi maki-e, imitating those painted on
the shells used in the courtly shell-matching game, the inside of the
cover and top detachable tray depicting autumnal plants of fuyo (rose
mallow) and chrysanthemums, as well as spring plants of dandelions
and horsetails embellished in gold takamaki-e, the inside remaining
undecorated areas of rich nashiji; signed on the base in gold lacquer
Hotokusai Kakushu with a kao.
13.3cm x 19.7cm x 16.2cm (5¼in x 7¾in x 6 3/8in). (3).

£25,000 - 30,000
JPY3,600,000 - 4,400,000
US$33,000 - 39,000

The artist is recorded by E. A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists,
Northumberland, Harehope, 1995, p.109.

61

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