A Lacquer Wedding Chest
A Lacquer Wedding Chest

EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

Details
A Lacquer Wedding Chest
Edo Period (19th Century)
Rectangular, with two hinged doors opening to four large rectangular drawers, each fitted with c-shaped gilt-metal pulls and lined on the interiors in marbled paper, the exteriors of the doors lacquered in gold takamaki-e with birds and stands of staked chrysanthemums, some of the blossoms covered in gold foil, and the ground nashiji; the interiors of the doors designed with auspicious symbols, including pine, bamboo and plum, the 'Three Friends' (shochikubai), a long-tailed turtle (minogame), cranes, and the rake, broom, and pine-bordered shore emblematic of the Takasago couple, most elements of the panels rendered in gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, the rippling waves togidashi, crests of the cranes red lacquer, beaks black lacquer, and the trees embellished with kirigane, the backgrounds lacquered with bands of mist in togidashi and in mura-nashiji, and the setting sun added to the left panel behind descending cranes togidashi; the faces of the drawers, the top of the chest and sides of the chest all lacquered in gold hiramaki-e with scrolling foliage on nashiji grounds, and the back panel designed with clusters of chrysanthemums and lush foliage in gold hiramaki-e on a matching nashiji ground; fittings gilt-copper engraved with floral arabesques; wood stand
375/8 x 181/8 x 411/8in. (95.5 x 46 x 104.3cm.)

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