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Lacquer including a group of Rinpa-style objects
Lot 2216
An impressive gold-lacquer writing box (suzuribako) and matching table (bundai) By Unryuan (Kitamura Tatsuo, b. 1952)
20 March 2012, 13:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$37,500 inc. premium
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An impressive gold-lacquer writing box (suzuribako) and matching table (bundai)
By Unryuan (Kitamura Tatsuo, b. 1952)
The box and table both lavishly decorated in iroe togidashi against a fundame ground depicting scenes from the epic Summer Battle of Osaka; the writing box designed on the cover with the mounted warriors of Matsudaira Tadanao as they advance on the troops of Sanada Yukimura, the underside decorated with the defeated troops and civilians of Osaka castle fleeing into the river, the writing box fitted with a kidney-shaped ink stone and a gilt-silver water dropper cast and carved as a ciccada and set into a silver saucer; rims silver, signed beneath the removeable tray Unryuan and kao
The writing table designed with the troops of the Sanada and Matsudaira clans as they rush to do battle, the hardware silver finished in a stippled surface, signed Unryuan and with kao
Each piece with a wood storage box inscribed in the cover Sengoku gassen suzuribako and Sengoku gassen bundai and signed and sealed Unryuan and with kao; and an outer wood storage box designed to hold both storage boxes, laquered green and inscribed on the exterior Sengoku gassen bun suzuri in gold lacquer Writing box 6 5/8 x 5 7/8 x 1 1/2in (16.8 x 15 x 6.4cm); writing table 16 3/8 x 9 1/4 x 3 3/8in (41.6 x 23.5 x 8.5cm)
The box and table both lavishly decorated in iroe togidashi against a fundame ground depicting scenes from the epic Summer Battle of Osaka; the writing box designed on the cover with the mounted warriors of Matsudaira Tadanao as they advance on the troops of Sanada Yukimura, the underside decorated with the defeated troops and civilians of Osaka castle fleeing into the river, the writing box fitted with a kidney-shaped ink stone and a gilt-silver water dropper cast and carved as a ciccada and set into a silver saucer; rims silver, signed beneath the removeable tray Unryuan and kao
The writing table designed with the troops of the Sanada and Matsudaira clans as they rush to do battle, the hardware silver finished in a stippled surface, signed Unryuan and with kao
Each piece with a wood storage box inscribed in the cover Sengoku gassen suzuribako and Sengoku gassen bundai and signed and sealed Unryuan and with kao; and an outer wood storage box designed to hold both storage boxes, laquered green and inscribed on the exterior Sengoku gassen bun suzuri in gold lacquer Writing box 6 5/8 x 5 7/8 x 1 1/2in (16.8 x 15 x 6.4cm); writing table 16 3/8 x 9 1/4 x 3 3/8in (41.6 x 23.5 x 8.5cm)
Footnotes
Exhibited: Barry Davies Oriental Art, London "Contemporary Lacquer: Unryuan, The New Generation", 1993.6
Published: Contemporary Lacquer: Unryuan, The New Generation, exh. cat. (London: Barry Davies Oriental Art, 1993), no. 28.
The Osaka Summer Battle, 1615, was the deciding episode in the series of battles that took place during the year-long Siege of Osaka Castle. Here, the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) defeated those of Toyotomi Hideyori (1593-1615) effectively removing the final obstacle in the Tokugawa clan's bid for consolidated power and ultimate rule of Japan.
Unryuan was born in Wajima-city, Ishikawa Prefecture, an area famous for its lacquer ware. At an early age he began a long apprenticeship to a local lacquer artist and learned a solid foundation in the various techniques used in traditional lacquer production. As he matured, he developed an even greater devotion to the classical styles and techniques in lacquer ware.
Today he is considered one of the greatest living lacquer artists and his work is found in some of the most important Museums and private collections worldwide.