Lot Essay
This box belongs to a tradition of 17th century lacquers for the domestic Japanese market decorated with figural scenes from the Genji monogatari [Tale of Genji] [see 1 below]. The Orange catalogue correctly suggests a late 17th century date.
1 Kyoto National Museum, Nihon no isho [Japanese classical literature as the theme in crafts] (Kyoto, 1978) cat. no. 130, a mirror stand with Genji designs in Tokyo National Museum, is another example of a 17th century Genji lacquer for the Japanese market. Kyoto National Museum, Makie, shikkoku to ogon no Nihonbi [The beauty of black and gold Japanese lacquer] (Kyoto, 1995), reproduces further examples: a fan-shaped suzuribako (cat. no. 166) and a tray (cat. no. 167), suggesting a 17th century date for both.
1 Kyoto National Museum, Nihon no isho [Japanese classical literature as the theme in crafts] (Kyoto, 1978) cat. no. 130, a mirror stand with Genji designs in Tokyo National Museum, is another example of a 17th century Genji lacquer for the Japanese market. Kyoto National Museum, Makie, shikkoku to ogon no Nihonbi [The beauty of black and gold Japanese lacquer] (Kyoto, 1995), reproduces further examples: a fan-shaped suzuribako (cat. no. 166) and a tray (cat. no. 167), suggesting a 17th century date for both.