A ROIRONURI SUZURIBAKO, the cover decorated in gold hiramakie, kirigane, kimpun and fundame with three cranes standing beneath a pine tree on a promontory among breaking waves, two homing cranes in the distance, the interior depicting calmer water and shallower waves beneath banks of sea mist, in kimpun, fundame and kirigane, the sky in nashiji, the interior of the box and base in nashiji (restored rims and interior frame, replaced suzuri and shibuichi suiteki), late 17th century

Details

A ROIRONURI SUZURIBAKO, the cover decorated in gold hiramakie, kirigane, kimpun and fundame with three cranes standing beneath a pine tree on a promontory among breaking waves, two homing cranes in the distance, the interior depicting calmer water and shallower waves beneath banks of sea mist, in kimpun, fundame and kirigane, the sky in nashiji, the interior of the box and base in nashiji (restored rims and interior frame, replaced suzuri and shibuichi suiteki), late 17th century
22.8 x 21.3 x 5.2cm. high, with inscribed wood box, two brushes, a Chinese ink stick, and letter with certificate

Lot Essay

A letter from the Tokyo Trading Company Ltd., dated 27th July 1926 and addressed to George Nixon Esq., states that "we have the great pleasure to inform you that we are going to send you very shortly a present of lacquered ink-box with pictures in gold, inside and outside, painted by one of our skilled workmen, in high appreciation of your long and uninterrupted services since January, 1916, when the Union Export Co. had started our Agency in London"

Examination of the suzuribako and its inscribed wood container suggests that it was selected from the Tokyo Trading Company's stock and refurbished (rather than actually painted) by one of their skilled workmen, being provided with a new suzuri and suiteki.

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