λ A COLLECTION OF JAPANESE GOLD LACQUER PIECES

λ A COLLECTION OF JAPANESE GOLD LACQUER PIECES
EDO/MEIJI, 18TH/19TH CENTURY

Including a saya (sheath) inro, the outer casing decorated with many figures at leisure in a garden wearing Heian-style garments, probably a scene from the Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji); one side with a goshoguruma (ox-drawn carriage) with travellers visible inside, all rendered in gold hiramaki-e, nashiji and kirikane, the five-case inro inside in gold maki-e and the inside in nashiji; another piece a two-case inro, simulating a kinchaku (drawstring bag) encasing a pottery chaire (tea caddy and lid) with a fake lacquer lid topped with a branch of coral, the mock fabric decorated with large flowerheads and scrolling tendrils, with an agate ojime and a wood netsuke carved as a turtle with amber eyes; the last item a circular kobako box decorated with birds, flowers and rocks, containing four smaller boxes embellished with further blossoms and scrolling tendrils, all rendered in gold and silver himaraki-e and kirikane; the box encased in a metal hinged frame for use as a sagemono, together with a silk pouch, 9.8cm max. (12)

Provenance: from the collection of William Cleverley Alexander (1840-1916), and thence by descent.