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Lot 95*
A set of ryoshibako (document box) and suzuribako (writing box) By Ema Chokan (1881-1940), Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, circa 1920-1940
7 November 2019, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£30,000 - £40,000
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A set of ryoshibako (document box) and suzuribako (writing box)
By Ema Chokan (1881-1940), Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, circa 1920-1940
The rounded rectangular ryoshibako with inrobuta (flush-fitting lid); the rims silver; the rounded rectangular suzuribako with kabusebuta (overhanging lid) with chiri-i (narrow ledge between top and sides), the box and lid both with silver rims; the interior frame and baseboard fitted with suzuri (ink-grinding stone) with gold-lacquered rim and gold nashiji lacquer sides, the shakudo, shibuichi and gold suiteki (water-dropper) in the form of two butterflies; the other writing implements comprising a kiri (paper-skewer), a kogatana (paper knife) and a sumitori (ink-holder), each with nashiji lacquer handles (the knife also with a lacquer cover) and shakudo fittings, two fude (writing brushes) with nashiji lacquer handles and covers, and a stick of ink; the lacquer decoration of both ryoshibako and suzuribako executed in polished black roiro lacquer and gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with gold hirame and shell, depicting on the lid of the ryoshibako a single ancient pine, on the lid of the suzuribako pines on a hillside, on the interior of the ryoshibako lid chrysanthemums by a stream and on the interior of the suzuribako spring plants; the other surfaces finished in gold nashiji lacquer; each with an inner wood tomobako storage box and a lacquered wood outer tomobako storage box; the boxes for the ryoshibako each inscribed Rosho maki-e ryoshi bunko Heian maki-eshi Chokan saku (Document box with ancient pines in maki-e made by Chokan, maki-e master of Kyoto) and sealed Ema no in (Seal of Ema) and Chokan; the boxes for the suzuribako each inscribed Rosho maki-e suzuribako Heian maki-eshi Chokan saku (Writing box with ancient pines in maki-e made by Chokan, maki-e master of Kyoto) and sealed Chokan. The ryoshibako: 16cm x 36.2cm x 44.1cm (6¼in x 14¼in x 17 3/8in); the suzuribako: 5cm x 23.2cm x 26.4cm (2in x 9 1/8in x 10 3/8in). (17).
The rounded rectangular ryoshibako with inrobuta (flush-fitting lid); the rims silver; the rounded rectangular suzuribako with kabusebuta (overhanging lid) with chiri-i (narrow ledge between top and sides), the box and lid both with silver rims; the interior frame and baseboard fitted with suzuri (ink-grinding stone) with gold-lacquered rim and gold nashiji lacquer sides, the shakudo, shibuichi and gold suiteki (water-dropper) in the form of two butterflies; the other writing implements comprising a kiri (paper-skewer), a kogatana (paper knife) and a sumitori (ink-holder), each with nashiji lacquer handles (the knife also with a lacquer cover) and shakudo fittings, two fude (writing brushes) with nashiji lacquer handles and covers, and a stick of ink; the lacquer decoration of both ryoshibako and suzuribako executed in polished black roiro lacquer and gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with gold hirame and shell, depicting on the lid of the ryoshibako a single ancient pine, on the lid of the suzuribako pines on a hillside, on the interior of the ryoshibako lid chrysanthemums by a stream and on the interior of the suzuribako spring plants; the other surfaces finished in gold nashiji lacquer; each with an inner wood tomobako storage box and a lacquered wood outer tomobako storage box; the boxes for the ryoshibako each inscribed Rosho maki-e ryoshi bunko Heian maki-eshi Chokan saku (Document box with ancient pines in maki-e made by Chokan, maki-e master of Kyoto) and sealed Ema no in (Seal of Ema) and Chokan; the boxes for the suzuribako each inscribed Rosho maki-e suzuribako Heian maki-eshi Chokan saku (Writing box with ancient pines in maki-e made by Chokan, maki-e master of Kyoto) and sealed Chokan. The ryoshibako: 16cm x 36.2cm x 44.1cm (6¼in x 14¼in x 17 3/8in); the suzuribako: 5cm x 23.2cm x 26.4cm (2in x 9 1/8in x 10 3/8in). (17).
Footnotes
For information regarding this important 20th century-lacquer artist, please refer to the footnote to lot 93.