A lacquer writing box (suzuribako)

Koda Shuetsu (1881-1933), Taisho-Showa period (early 20th century)

Details

A lacquer writing box (suzuribako)
Koda Shuetsu (1881-1933), Taisho-Showa period (early 20th century)
The square box designed with a stream in gold lacquer togidashi, additionally embellished with a poem inlaid in silver characters, the interior decorated in gold hiramaki-e and togidashi with plum boughs, pine and bamboo on a nashiji ground, fitted in the lower interior with an implement tray, inkstone and a gilded metal water dropper set into a removable tray
8 ¼ x 7 ¼ x 1 5/8 in. (21 x 18.4 x 4.1 cm.)
With original wood box signed Shuetsu saku and bearing a seal

Lot Essay

Koda (born Koda Keiichro) descended from a family of lacquerers and participated in sponsored exhibitions during the Taisho period. He chose his art name Shuetsu to honor Hon'ami Koetsu (1558-1637), the lacquerer, potter and calligrapher who inspired the Rinpa decorative style. Shuetsu worked in a simple palette of gold and black lacquer embellished with inlays, as here.

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