Lot 16*
Sano Chōkan 佐埜長寛 (1794-1856) YATATE (PORTABLE BRUSH-AND-INK CASE) WITH DESIGN OF SPINNING-TOP AND SILK BALL 独楽鞠図蒔絵矢立 Edo Period (1615-1868), first half of the nineteenth century
5 November 2014, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £13,750 inc. premium
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Sano Chōkan 佐埜長寛 (1794-1856) YATATE (PORTABLE BRUSH-AND-INK CASE) WITH DESIGN OF SPINNING-TOP AND SILK BALL 独楽鞠図蒔絵矢立
Edo Period (1615-1868), first half of the nineteenth century
Assembled from turned and carved wood, silver, and animal fur and comprising a base to which are attached a lidded box in the shape of an itomari or temari (ballmade from silk thread), a tray inside the box inset with a silver suiteki (water dropper) and suzuri (inkstone), and a brush holder in the form of a koma (spinning-top), its spindle formed by a telescopic silver brush in three sections with an animal-fur tip, the whole lacquered in a range of patterns and techniques including gold Gyōbu nashiji on the top of the base, peonies and tendrils in gold hiramaki-e on the sides of the base, and gold nashiji underneath the base, the silk ball and spinning top illusionistically finished in gold, silver, aokin, and coloured hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, the interior of the ball of gold fundame
Signed in gold hiramaki-e on the lower half of the silk ball Sano Chōkan saku 佐埜長寛作 (made by Sano Chōkan)
7.8 × 11.3 × 7.2 cm (3 × 4½ × 2¾ in.)
With fitted wooden tomobako storage box inscribed Omocha-zukushi okimono on-yatate Sano Chōkan saku 玩具盡 置物御矢立 佐埜長寛作 (Ornamental yatate with toy design by Sano Chōkan)
(4).
Assembled from turned and carved wood, silver, and animal fur and comprising a base to which are attached a lidded box in the shape of an itomari or temari (ballmade from silk thread), a tray inside the box inset with a silver suiteki (water dropper) and suzuri (inkstone), and a brush holder in the form of a koma (spinning-top), its spindle formed by a telescopic silver brush in three sections with an animal-fur tip, the whole lacquered in a range of patterns and techniques including gold Gyōbu nashiji on the top of the base, peonies and tendrils in gold hiramaki-e on the sides of the base, and gold nashiji underneath the base, the silk ball and spinning top illusionistically finished in gold, silver, aokin, and coloured hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, the interior of the ball of gold fundame
Signed in gold hiramaki-e on the lower half of the silk ball Sano Chōkan saku 佐埜長寛作 (made by Sano Chōkan)
7.8 × 11.3 × 7.2 cm (3 × 4½ × 2¾ in.)
With fitted wooden tomobako storage box inscribed Omocha-zukushi okimono on-yatate Sano Chōkan saku 玩具盡 置物御矢立 佐埜長寛作 (Ornamental yatate with toy design by Sano Chōkan)
(4).
Footnotes
On succeeding his father at age 21, the eccentric Kyoto-based artist Sano Chōkan undertook an extensive countrywide tour of centres of the lacquer industry, returning home in 1822 to revive the family business, specializing in tea-ceremony wares, trays and other tableware, and domestic items such as the present lot. (Takao 2005, p. 101). This unusual miniature writing set, with a writing box shaped like a silk ball and a brush that takes the form of the handle of a child's spinning top, was likely a New Year gift, since such toys were a favourite emblem of the ceremonies that took place during the first month (see lot no. 8).
