A MASSIVE BLACK AND RED LACQUERED WOOD HANGING EWER, NEGORO WARE

MOMOYAMA - EDO PERIOD (LATE 16TH-17TH CENTURY)

Details

A MASSIVE BLACK AND RED LACQUERED WOOD HANGING EWER, NEGORO WARE
MOMOYAMA - EDO PERIOD (LATE 16TH-17TH CENTURY)
Round, with tall, curving walls and with extended u-shaped spout, fitted with four opposing loop rings of copper to accommodate cords to suspend the ewer, each metal loop secured below the rim of the vessel with four round-head nails that are not visible on the smooth lacquer interior; the inner and exterior surfaces covered predominantly with red lacquer with intrusions of black lacquer, more pronounced in five streaks and small dots of black in the well of the basin and in one large streak on the exterior wall; the raised foot ring encircling a shallow recessed base applied with black lacquer; inscribed on the flat base in black lacquer Todaiji (the temple Todaiji) and illegible date
19 5/8 in. (50.7 cm.) diameter

Provenance

Todaiji Temple, Nara Prefecture
Todoroki Takashi (1938-2016), Tokyo

Brought to you by

Takaaki Murakami

tmurakami@christies.com 212 636 2158

Lot Essay

Todoroki Takashi (1938-2016) was a famous connoisseur of Asian art, especially known for his great collection of Korean ceramics, Buddhist art and Negoro lacquer ware.
The functional, geometric forms and warm, monochromatic color of Negoro vessels give them a universal appeal. Today, art connoisseurs around the world appreciate Negoro, and for good reason. The name Negoro derives from the name of an extensive Buddhist temple complex, Negoro-dera, in the Katsuragi Mountains in Wakayama Prefecture, where such wares were once produced in large quantities. This ewer is believed to have been suspended to serve hot water in a temple. It is an exceptionally large example of its type and no other Negoro ewer with metal loop rings is known.

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