A JAPANESE SMOKING SET

A JAPANESE SMOKING SET

EDO OR MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH OR 19TH CENTURY

The kiseruzutsu (pipe case) of muso-zutsu form and made of woven rattan, decorated with a large tetsubin and with sprays of millet hung from a tall mast behind, the design rendered in gold, silver and brown takamaki-e lacquer, the kettle in seido-nuri lacquer imitating metal, with remnants of a signature in gold to the side; the tabakoire (tobacco pouch) of tooled leather, the front with European-style designs of arabesques and the back with grapes and vines, the gold mae-kanagu shaped as flowering sprays of chrysanthemum, together with an agate ojime, the kiseruzutsu 20.5cm. (2)

Provenance: an English private collection, Somerset.