A LACQUERED BURL WOOD SUZURIBAKO

Details

A LACQUERED BURL WOOD SUZURIBAKO
(EARLY 20TH CENTURY)

The rectangular writing box decorated in gold hiramaki-e with the poet-priest Yoshida Kenko writing below a transcription of his work within a silver-black lacquer ishimi-e border, the underside of the lid and lower section of the box nashiji; fitted with a gilt metal mizuire and inkstone--7½ x 9 7/8 x 1½in. (19.1 x 25.2 x 3.8cm.), lid slightly warped

Lot Essay

The inscription on the lid of this box cites a passage on the pleasures of reading from the Japanese literary classic Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Idleness) written about 1330 by the recluse poet-priest Yoshida Kenko.