A NAKATSUGI [CYLINDRICAL TEA-CADDY], A NATSUME [TEA-CADDY] AND A BOX AND COVER

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A NAKATSUGI [CYLINDRICAL TEA-CADDY], A NATSUME [TEA-CADDY] AND A BOX AND COVER
The first, black lacquer ground sprinkled with gold powder and decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with a traveller's oi [backpack], a maple tree, autumn plants and vine tendrils, unsigned, Edo Period (18th Century), with fitted box; another of the usual form, the black lacquer ground decorated in gold and aokin togidashi-e with a willow beneath clouds, the interior of the lid with a crescent moon behind clouds, signed in gold hiramaki-e underneath with a single character Ko or Bun, Meiji/Showa Period (early 20th Century), with fitted box; and a small rectangular box with irizumi [turned-in corners], the black ground with flakes of gold, decorated in gold, silver and coloured hiramaki-e with shell and foil with numerous butterflies, the interior dense nashiji, silver fittings, silk cords, unsigned, Edo Period (19th Century), fitted box
27/8in. (7.3cm.), 2½in. (6.5cm.) and 2in. (5.3cm.) high (3)

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.

Lot Essay

The design of the first tea-caddy refers to the Tsuta no hosomichi [Narrow Ivy Path], an episode in the mythical wanderings of the courtier-poet Ariwara no Narihira (825-80), who is thought to be the model for the anonymous principal character of the tenth-century narrative Ise monogatari (Tales of Ise).

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