A COLLECTION OF JAPANESE LACQUER PIECES

A COLLECTION OF JAPANESE LACQUER PIECES
MEIJI AND LATER, 19TH CENTURY AND LATER

Comprised of two models of multi-storey pavilions, each opening to reveal many compartments, trays and boxes, one with details rendered in eggshell; a fan-shaped box and cover, the surface also decorated in white eggshells, gold and iroe hiramaki-e lacquer, with chickens and a landscape; together with a model of an ox-drawn cart and a miniature shamisen, 40cm max. (49)

Provenance: the Tomkinson Family Collection. The fan-shaped box purchased from Christie's London, 19 June 1997, lot 601 (part), formerly in the collection of James Orange, Hong Kong; copies of the original invoice is available.

James Orange lived in Hong Kong at the turn of the century, visiting Japan frequently and assembling an impressive lacquer collection. Many of his pieces were bequeathed to the British Museum in 1928.