Lot Essay
Mitsushige is a well-known signature which appears on a range of 19th-century works in a variety of techniques. See E.A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists (Harehope, Northumberland, 1995), p. 330.
![FOUR KISERUZUTSU [PIPECASES]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2000/CKS/2000_CKS_06327_0071_000(011518).jpg?w=1)
EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)
Details
FOUR KISERUZUTSU [PIPECASES]
Edo Period (19th century)
An ebony pipecase, the polished wood applied in relief silver and gilt with a lotus plant, metal fitting, the stopper signed in sunk relief on a metal plaque Mitsushige; a basketwork pipecase with mottled lacquering subsequently carved, the stopper of ivory incised with a shojo [drunken sprite] by a huge jar of sake and signed in indistinct scratched characters Bunsai(?) with a seal Tera; an ebony pipecase, the polished wood applied near the base with an egret and lotus plant in shell and stained horn; carved lacquer ojime with quails and flowers, unsigned; and a wood pipecase with a dragon carved in relief (eyes inlaid in metal) on an overlapping waves ground, unsigned
8¾in. (22.2cm.), 8½in. (21.5cm.), 87/8in. (22.5cm.) and 10¾in. (27.2cm.) long respectively (4)
Edo Period (19th century)
An ebony pipecase, the polished wood applied in relief silver and gilt with a lotus plant, metal fitting, the stopper signed in sunk relief on a metal plaque Mitsushige; a basketwork pipecase with mottled lacquering subsequently carved, the stopper of ivory incised with a shojo [drunken sprite] by a huge jar of sake and signed in indistinct scratched characters Bunsai(?) with a seal Tera; an ebony pipecase, the polished wood applied near the base with an egret and lotus plant in shell and stained horn; carved lacquer ojime with quails and flowers, unsigned; and a wood pipecase with a dragon carved in relief (eyes inlaid in metal) on an overlapping waves ground, unsigned
8¾in. (22.2cm.), 8½in. (21.5cm.), 87/8in. (22.5cm.) and 10¾in. (27.2cm.) long respectively (4)
Provenance
The second, Henry Charles Clifford Collection
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.