AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE SHIKOMI KISERUZUTSU AND TONKOTSU

AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE SHIKOMI KISERUZUTSU AND TONKOTSU

LATE EDO OR MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

The wooden tobacco case imitating a fabric pouch, tabakoire, the lower part with a single drawer, the surface richly carved in shallow relief with two long-feathered birds perched on a flowering branch of prunus on a diaper ground, the sides and back with foliage, flowerheads and reishi fungi; the ojime a cloisonné bead; the short blade concealed in a lacquer pipe case, kiseruzutsu, a paper collection label to the back reading '384', 25cm max. (3)

Provenance: formerly the collection of Sir Sydney Richard Wells, 1st Baronet, D.L., M.P. for Bedford (1879-1957) of Felmersham Grange, Bedfordshire, and thence by descent.