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THE PROPERTY OF AN ENGLISH COLLECTOR, THE COLLECTION FORMED IN THE 1920's AND THENCE BY DESCENT

A Small Lacquer Box

EDO PERIOD (EARLY 19TH CENTURY)

Details

A Small Lacquer Box
Edo period (early 19th century)
The rectangular box with a hinged cover decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e and inlaid in Somada style with chrysanthemums and scrolling foliage, the catch in the form of a butterfly, nashiji interior
8.3cm. wide

Provenance

Trevor Lawrence Collection
Glendining & Co. Ltd., 1923

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

Sale room notice

Please note that this lot contains mother-of-pearl. Prospective bidders should be aware that if they intend to import this lot into another country it may require a CITES permit. Bidders should therefore familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding.

Lot Essay

The Somada family of lacquer artists is traditionally said to have been founded in the early 18th century by Somada Kiyosuke who learned the technique in Nagasaki, Edo period Japan's window onto contemporary China. Somada ware is characterised by intricate inlay of iridescent shell with tiny pieces of gold and silver foil laid flush with the ground which is usually black lacquer.

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