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The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art
A LACQUER SUZURIBAKO (WRITING BOX) AND COVER
JAPAN, MEIJI PERIOD (EARLY 20TH CENTURY), BEARING THE SIGNATURE ZESHIN (SCHOOL OF SHIBATA ZESHIN; 1807-1891)
Details
A LACQUER SUZURIBAKO (WRITING BOX) AND COVER
JAPAN, MEIJI PERIOD (EARLY 20TH CENTURY), BEARING THE SIGNATURE ZESHIN (SCHOOL OF SHIBATA ZESHIN; 1807-1891)
Of square form with a kabusebuta (overhanging lid), decorated in gold, silver, and coloured hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and togidashi maki-e with details of okibirame and inlaid shell, on the exterior of the lid a moonlit scene depicting two noblemen seen from inside a circular, bamboo-latticed window, one playing a yokobue (flute) and the second dancing in accompaniment, a landscape painting displayed behind in the tokonoma and a lantern suspended before the bamboo blinds, the interior of the lid with a maple-decorated, roiro-nuri shodana (book shelf stand) displaying on the top shelf several implements associated with kodo (the incense game) including a jukogo (three-tiered box) for storing incense wood, a koro (incense burner), a kyoji-tate (implement stand) holding a haboki ('feather duster') and haibashi (metal ash chopsticks), a paper packet containing fragrant wood, on the other shelves a book, a set of rolled scrolls and a document box, beside a tsuitate screen painted with an oxherd riding an ox, inscribed Morinobu hitsu, a checkered board for game tokens, counters and a brocade pouch scattered on the ground, the interior of the box with a removable ita (baseboard) fitted with a suzuri (ink-grinding stone) and a silver suiteki (water dropper) in form of a plum blossom, similarly lacquered with a Chinese vase containing a stalk of chrysanthemum and a teapot on a mat, bearing a gold lacquer hiramaki-e signature Zeshin, all reserved against a ground of polished ishime lacquer.
1 3⁄8 in. (3.5 cm.) high, 8 in. (20.3 cm.) long, 7 1⁄8 in. (18.1 cm.) wide
JAPAN, MEIJI PERIOD (EARLY 20TH CENTURY), BEARING THE SIGNATURE ZESHIN (SCHOOL OF SHIBATA ZESHIN; 1807-1891)
Of square form with a kabusebuta (overhanging lid), decorated in gold, silver, and coloured hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and togidashi maki-e with details of okibirame and inlaid shell, on the exterior of the lid a moonlit scene depicting two noblemen seen from inside a circular, bamboo-latticed window, one playing a yokobue (flute) and the second dancing in accompaniment, a landscape painting displayed behind in the tokonoma and a lantern suspended before the bamboo blinds, the interior of the lid with a maple-decorated, roiro-nuri shodana (book shelf stand) displaying on the top shelf several implements associated with kodo (the incense game) including a jukogo (three-tiered box) for storing incense wood, a koro (incense burner), a kyoji-tate (implement stand) holding a haboki ('feather duster') and haibashi (metal ash chopsticks), a paper packet containing fragrant wood, on the other shelves a book, a set of rolled scrolls and a document box, beside a tsuitate screen painted with an oxherd riding an ox, inscribed Morinobu hitsu, a checkered board for game tokens, counters and a brocade pouch scattered on the ground, the interior of the box with a removable ita (baseboard) fitted with a suzuri (ink-grinding stone) and a silver suiteki (water dropper) in form of a plum blossom, similarly lacquered with a Chinese vase containing a stalk of chrysanthemum and a teapot on a mat, bearing a gold lacquer hiramaki-e signature Zeshin, all reserved against a ground of polished ishime lacquer.
1 3⁄8 in. (3.5 cm.) high, 8 in. (20.3 cm.) long, 7 1⁄8 in. (18.1 cm.) wide
Provenance
Sold at Christie's, London, 1 May 1967.
Purchased from Douglas Wright, 10 October 1967.
Wrangham Collection, no. 823, with original collector's label.
Purchased from Douglas Wright, 10 October 1967.
Wrangham Collection, no. 823, with original collector's label.
Literature
Robert Schaap (ed.), Meiji Japanese art in transition, the Haags Gemeentemuseum, Society for Japanese Arts and Crafts, Leiden, The Netherlands, 1987, p.114, no.186 (ill.)
Exhibited
The Hague, The Netherlands, Meiji Japanese Art in Transition, 21 March - 24 May 1987.
Brought to you by
Zheng Ma
Head of Department, Senior Specialist