A JAPANESE BLACK LACQUER TEA CADDY AND COVER

A JAPANESE BLACK LACQUER TEA CADDY AND COVER, NATSUME

MEIJI 1868-1912

The short rounded body decorated with prunus flowers amongst scrolling tendrils, together with five red lacquer and gold takamaki-e sake cups, sakazuki; two decorated with birds perched on branches; one with the hull of a ship laden with sacred objects, possibly a reference to the Seven Gods of Good Fortune's ship, takarabune; the fourth with a fan inscribed ki and a branch of pine, signed Motomasa to the front and Kizo Tatsumi Kiyomasa to the back; the fifth with a scene of many figures walking down a row of shops, with Mount Fuji in the background, signed Byakkisai, 13.1cm max. (5)