Details
A RARE COLLECTION OF YATATE
EDO PERIOD (18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES)
A collection of yatate, portable writing implements containing a brush holder and ink well, contained in a five-tiered wood box fitted with purple silk interiors moulded to hold each piece; each tier fitted with padded silk cushions; each tier described generally from right to left with measurement of one piece given for scale, the set comprising:
I. Ivory yatate, 19 cm., carved in the form of a slender bunch of grapes and three squirrels, the single grape at the tip the lid of the brush holder which slides out from the interior, the leaf on which sits the smallest squirrel forming the hinged cover of the inkwell
Chinese gold and cinnabar lacquer brush case and soft-metal inkwell, the case decorated with dragons and immortals, one end unscrewing to open the case for the gilded collapsible brush; the inkwell composed of two fuchi and one kashira, one set matched, the plate in shakudo nanako and applied with gilt and shakudo family crests, two mon designed from shrine amulets (mamori), signed Yanagawa Naotaka, ca. 1800; silver tubular ojime
Circular yatate, with silver clasp, hinge and attachment ring, the knob of the clasp also the tip of the silver shaft of the brush, cleverly pulling out of the well to allow the hinged lid to open to the inkwell, also fitted with a compass, poem on the
cover in gold lacquer
Lacquered, carved and gold-inlaid ivory yatate, in the form of a pipe case carved in high relief on the shaft with plum branches covered in glossy black lacquer and inlaid in gilded metal with random buds and blossoms set on the matte black lacquer ground, signed in an oval gilt cartouche Daito; the plug of ivory carved with reticulated plums on the dome and with a seal character at the end; the inkwell stained ivory carved in sunken relief with plum branches, signed Hogyoku
Silver yatate, with cylindrical shaft for the brush with curved knife-handle grip fitted with a deep rectangular inkwell with hinged lid, chased overall with foliate scroll; fitted with a small bell-form netsuke
Lacquered bamboo yatate, one end hinged, a small bamboo-handled brush within
Brush form yatate, constructed in the form of a large ink brush with dark wood cylindrical shaft and ivory ends, each
ornamented with gold lacquer clouds, the cap of the brush container of silver cast to simulate a wetted ink brush and hinged to the
adjoining ivory; the circular metal inkwell incised with leaf forms
II. Zitan wood yatate, 23 cm., of cylindrical form, the container with one brush sliding out of the open-sided sheath, the inkwell matching wood modelled as a Chinese immortal and attendant, a branch of peaches on their backs serving as the removable lid of the ink cavity as well as the himotoshi; soft metal ojime
Gold-plated brass yatate, cast in the form of a three case inro applied with the major utensils used in the tea ceremony in shakudo, silver, copper and gold, a side pin removable to allow the case to open on a hinge, fitted on the interior with scissors, knife and brush, waterwell and inkwell, and two fan shaped miniature frames; coral bead ojime; painted wood figural netsuke
Small brass yatate, cast in the form of a rectangular shelf, a silver-handled sword on the top, sliding 'door' opening to the inkwell, the ring attachment also the tip of the removable collapsible brush
Ivory-inlaid wood yatate, carved as a biwa, a sliding rectangular lid for the inkwell, twisted wire strings distressed,
minor cracks
Soft-metal umbrella yatate, the gilt handle of the parasol unscrewing to contain the brush and the tip also unscrewing to contain the inkwell, the midsection finished in silver with a gilt plum lozenge and the two end sections shakudo
Lacquered bamboo and silver yatate, the outer container of oval section lacquered in ochre and red with maple, ginko and other autumn leaves, signed Chikuseki and sealed, enclosing an oval silver writing set fitted on the interior with inkwell, brush and
knife; wood bead ojime and bamboo node netsuke carved on one side with a long inscription
III.Lacquer and inlaid soft-metal yatate, 19.5 cm., designed as a sword with lacquered sheath and same hilt and applied with shakudo and gold peony and butterfly menuki, the silver tip swivel-hinged to allow access to the brush holder; single case inro-form lacquer inkwell; silver ojime signed Iekazu
Silver and gilt silver yatate, cast with melon-mon and chased with vine scroll, the hinged lid additionally ornamented with gilt mon and foliate scroll, signed Hachi-ju-hachi Minkoku kiza "engraved by Minkoku at the age of eighty-eight"
[Ikeda Minkoku I, b. 1833]
Wood yatate, fancifully carved as the seated Daruma, the lid opening to reveal two wells and collapsible silvered brush; colored ivory Daruma-form ojime, wood Daruma doll netsuke, signed Sukeyuki; stress crack on one side of yatate
Silver and gilt silver yatate, with double cylinder holder, containing one brush and one knife, cast to resemble an elaborate hair ornament, with lozenge-cloud inkwell fitted with a gilt dragon-and-jewel clasp mounted on the swivel-hinged lids; coral bead ojime
Brass archaistic yatate, with pot-form well cast with 'cash' and seal characters, the pierced shaft with Chinese inscription and containing a knife; glass ojime
IV. Metal-inlaid wood yatate, 20.7 cm., the brush container designed as stacked wood planks and inlaid with soft metal carpentry tools and containing a knife, lid hinge needs pin; the inkwell also wood in the form of a pulley lacquered with red and gold leaves, ivory 'crank', signed on underside Yoyusai saku
Bronze fan-shaped yatate, cast in two swivel sections with miniature brush and inkwell, signed Yoyusai saku
Lacquer and jade-mounted yatate, a tsuikoku cylindrical brush holder with hinged silver lid with brush and rectangular metal box-form inkwell with filigree sides and silver base, mounted on the lid with a green-suffused white jade plaque
Lacquered wood yatate, fitted with a metal holder for the inkwell and collapsible brush, inscribed in gold lacquer on the lid and reverse; ivory monkey-form netsuke; soft-metal ojime
Lacquered ivory yatate, with ivory handle striped in black lacquer, signed in gold lacquer Koma Yasutada saku, the stem unscrewing to open the brush container containing an ivory-handled brush, the drum form inkwell lacquered on the sides in mokume and on the flat surfaces in togidashi with tomo-e, the top surface with swivel hinge; locking pin missing
Humorous wood yatate, fashioned in the form of Shoki's club applied on the end with metal studs, the inkwell carved in the form of a seated oni, his sedge hat the lid of the well; wood fish ojime
V. Large fan-form yatate, 30.7 cm., lacquered in iro-e takamaki-e with a bird and flowers, the swing-hinged lid opening to the two wells, knife and brush, silver hinge signed Jokasai saku, brocade clasp
Lacquered and inlaid bamboo yatate, of cylindrical form of two sections which pull apart, decorated in gold and inlaid aogai with birds and grasses, dated Tempo 5 (1834); shibuichi inkwell cast in the form of a frog; metal bead ojime signed Iekazu
Ivory yatate, carved in the form of an archaic style dragon, deeply etched and stained, hinged lid to well and brush, the handle of which is visible below the dragon's spine, signed Homin; inlaid iron double-gourd ojime
Bronze and patinated metal yatate, of koto form with
hinged top and cavity fitted with silver liner holding the well,
pincers, knife and brush
Lacquered bamboo-section yatate, the shallow disc fitted with removable lacquered holder for brush, inkstone and gilt metal water dropper, the lid decorated with a gold lacquer fan cartouche, distressed, signed on the underside in red lacquer with kakihan
EDO PERIOD (18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES)
A collection of yatate, portable writing implements containing a brush holder and ink well, contained in a five-tiered wood box fitted with purple silk interiors moulded to hold each piece; each tier fitted with padded silk cushions; each tier described generally from right to left with measurement of one piece given for scale, the set comprising:
I. Ivory yatate, 19 cm., carved in the form of a slender bunch of grapes and three squirrels, the single grape at the tip the lid of the brush holder which slides out from the interior, the leaf on which sits the smallest squirrel forming the hinged cover of the inkwell
Chinese gold and cinnabar lacquer brush case and soft-metal inkwell, the case decorated with dragons and immortals, one end unscrewing to open the case for the gilded collapsible brush; the inkwell composed of two fuchi and one kashira, one set matched, the plate in shakudo nanako and applied with gilt and shakudo family crests, two mon designed from shrine amulets (mamori), signed Yanagawa Naotaka, ca. 1800; silver tubular ojime
Circular yatate, with silver clasp, hinge and attachment ring, the knob of the clasp also the tip of the silver shaft of the brush, cleverly pulling out of the well to allow the hinged lid to open to the inkwell, also fitted with a compass, poem on the
cover in gold lacquer
Lacquered, carved and gold-inlaid ivory yatate, in the form of a pipe case carved in high relief on the shaft with plum branches covered in glossy black lacquer and inlaid in gilded metal with random buds and blossoms set on the matte black lacquer ground, signed in an oval gilt cartouche Daito; the plug of ivory carved with reticulated plums on the dome and with a seal character at the end; the inkwell stained ivory carved in sunken relief with plum branches, signed Hogyoku
Silver yatate, with cylindrical shaft for the brush with curved knife-handle grip fitted with a deep rectangular inkwell with hinged lid, chased overall with foliate scroll; fitted with a small bell-form netsuke
Lacquered bamboo yatate, one end hinged, a small bamboo-handled brush within
Brush form yatate, constructed in the form of a large ink brush with dark wood cylindrical shaft and ivory ends, each
ornamented with gold lacquer clouds, the cap of the brush container of silver cast to simulate a wetted ink brush and hinged to the
adjoining ivory; the circular metal inkwell incised with leaf forms
II. Zitan wood yatate, 23 cm., of cylindrical form, the container with one brush sliding out of the open-sided sheath, the inkwell matching wood modelled as a Chinese immortal and attendant, a branch of peaches on their backs serving as the removable lid of the ink cavity as well as the himotoshi; soft metal ojime
Gold-plated brass yatate, cast in the form of a three case inro applied with the major utensils used in the tea ceremony in shakudo, silver, copper and gold, a side pin removable to allow the case to open on a hinge, fitted on the interior with scissors, knife and brush, waterwell and inkwell, and two fan shaped miniature frames; coral bead ojime; painted wood figural netsuke
Small brass yatate, cast in the form of a rectangular shelf, a silver-handled sword on the top, sliding 'door' opening to the inkwell, the ring attachment also the tip of the removable collapsible brush
Ivory-inlaid wood yatate, carved as a biwa, a sliding rectangular lid for the inkwell, twisted wire strings distressed,
minor cracks
Soft-metal umbrella yatate, the gilt handle of the parasol unscrewing to contain the brush and the tip also unscrewing to contain the inkwell, the midsection finished in silver with a gilt plum lozenge and the two end sections shakudo
Lacquered bamboo and silver yatate, the outer container of oval section lacquered in ochre and red with maple, ginko and other autumn leaves, signed Chikuseki and sealed, enclosing an oval silver writing set fitted on the interior with inkwell, brush and
knife; wood bead ojime and bamboo node netsuke carved on one side with a long inscription
III.Lacquer and inlaid soft-metal yatate, 19.5 cm., designed as a sword with lacquered sheath and same hilt and applied with shakudo and gold peony and butterfly menuki, the silver tip swivel-hinged to allow access to the brush holder; single case inro-form lacquer inkwell; silver ojime signed Iekazu
Silver and gilt silver yatate, cast with melon-mon and chased with vine scroll, the hinged lid additionally ornamented with gilt mon and foliate scroll, signed Hachi-ju-hachi Minkoku kiza "engraved by Minkoku at the age of eighty-eight"
[Ikeda Minkoku I, b. 1833]
Wood yatate, fancifully carved as the seated Daruma, the lid opening to reveal two wells and collapsible silvered brush; colored ivory Daruma-form ojime, wood Daruma doll netsuke, signed Sukeyuki; stress crack on one side of yatate
Silver and gilt silver yatate, with double cylinder holder, containing one brush and one knife, cast to resemble an elaborate hair ornament, with lozenge-cloud inkwell fitted with a gilt dragon-and-jewel clasp mounted on the swivel-hinged lids; coral bead ojime
Brass archaistic yatate, with pot-form well cast with 'cash' and seal characters, the pierced shaft with Chinese inscription and containing a knife; glass ojime
IV. Metal-inlaid wood yatate, 20.7 cm., the brush container designed as stacked wood planks and inlaid with soft metal carpentry tools and containing a knife, lid hinge needs pin; the inkwell also wood in the form of a pulley lacquered with red and gold leaves, ivory 'crank', signed on underside Yoyusai saku
Bronze fan-shaped yatate, cast in two swivel sections with miniature brush and inkwell, signed Yoyusai saku
Lacquer and jade-mounted yatate, a tsuikoku cylindrical brush holder with hinged silver lid with brush and rectangular metal box-form inkwell with filigree sides and silver base, mounted on the lid with a green-suffused white jade plaque
Lacquered wood yatate, fitted with a metal holder for the inkwell and collapsible brush, inscribed in gold lacquer on the lid and reverse; ivory monkey-form netsuke; soft-metal ojime
Lacquered ivory yatate, with ivory handle striped in black lacquer, signed in gold lacquer Koma Yasutada saku, the stem unscrewing to open the brush container containing an ivory-handled brush, the drum form inkwell lacquered on the sides in mokume and on the flat surfaces in togidashi with tomo-e, the top surface with swivel hinge; locking pin missing
Humorous wood yatate, fashioned in the form of Shoki's club applied on the end with metal studs, the inkwell carved in the form of a seated oni, his sedge hat the lid of the well; wood fish ojime
V. Large fan-form yatate, 30.7 cm., lacquered in iro-e takamaki-e with a bird and flowers, the swing-hinged lid opening to the two wells, knife and brush, silver hinge signed Jokasai saku, brocade clasp
Lacquered and inlaid bamboo yatate, of cylindrical form of two sections which pull apart, decorated in gold and inlaid aogai with birds and grasses, dated Tempo 5 (1834); shibuichi inkwell cast in the form of a frog; metal bead ojime signed Iekazu
Ivory yatate, carved in the form of an archaic style dragon, deeply etched and stained, hinged lid to well and brush, the handle of which is visible below the dragon's spine, signed Homin; inlaid iron double-gourd ojime
Bronze and patinated metal yatate, of koto form with
hinged top and cavity fitted with silver liner holding the well,
pincers, knife and brush
Lacquered bamboo-section yatate, the shallow disc fitted with removable lacquered holder for brush, inkstone and gilt metal water dropper, the lid decorated with a gold lacquer fan cartouche, distressed, signed on the underside in red lacquer with kakihan