A KO-GUSHIBAKO [SMALL COMB-BOX] FROM A WEDDING SET

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY)

Details

A KO-GUSHIBAKO [SMALL COMB-BOX] FROM A WEDDING SET
Edo Period (18th Century)
With rounded corners, overhanging lid and interior fitted tray, the sides of the lid cut away to expose the two metal fittings; black lacquer ground; decoration in gold and aokin hiramaki-e and takamaki-e embellished with gold foil mosaic and larger areas of gold foil; interior, base and tray dense gold nashiji; rims gold lacquer; metal fittings of shakudo nanako each with a loose cord-ring, secured on the inside by a silver plate, slight old wear

A stream with flowering botan [tree-peonies] growing from its banks against a garden fence, mandarin ducks swimming in the stream, minogame [hairy-tailed tortoises] on the banks, and five kiri [paulownia] and six kuyo [nine-circle] mon scattered above the design
3.5/8 x 3 x 4.3/8in. (9.2 x 8.2 x 11.1cm.)

Lot Essay

The form and size of this box identify it as a kogushibako [small comb-box], an item which was usually displayed on the kurodana, one of the two principal sets of shelves in a classic set of wedding lacquer such as the famous Hatsune no chodo which was completed in 16391. The combination of the kuyo mon used by the Hosokawa family with the kiri mon used by the Imperial family suggests that the box formed part of a set made for a marriage between the two dynasties.

1 Tokugawa Bijutsukan [Tokugawa Art Museum], Hatsune no chodo [Hatsune Maki-e Lacquer Furnishings] (Nagoya, 1985), pl. 2

For other examples of wedding lacquer with the Hosokawa mon, see Kumamoto Kenritsu Bijutsukan [Kumamoto Prefectural Art Museum], Eisei Bunko no shikkogei [Lacquerware in the Eisei Bunko] (Kumamoto, 1983), cat. nos. 42, 44, 60; Osaka Shiritsu Bijutsukan [Osaka Municipal Museum of Art], Kazaru korekushon chodohen [The Casal Collection: Furniture] (Osaka, 1985), cat. nos. 1, 2, 3, 20, 22, 27

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