λ A JAPANESE INLAID LACQUER SUZURIBAKO (WRITING BOX)

λ A JAPANESE INLAID LACQUER SUZURIBAKO (WRITING BOX)
EDO PERIOD, 18TH/19TH CENTURY
IN THE STYLE OF OGAWA HARITSU (RITSUO, 1663-1747)

The lid decorated with two inrō depicted in low relief, one with three cases and embellished with a caparisoned elephant tethered to a pole, the other depicted in the shape of a gunbai fan, rendered in tsuishu lacquer with scrolling clouds and a central medallion with a stylised dragon, the netsuke in the shape of a small handscroll; with details masterfully rendered in a variety of materials including metal, ceramic, mother of pearl and glass; a red seal mark lower left reading as Kan; the interior embellished in nashiji and with compartments for writing implements, 26cm x 18.5cm x 3.5cm. (2)

Provenance: the Tomkinson Family Collection.

Ivory Act 2018 exemption certificate, ref. Q7AF7UYH