Lot 17*
SUZURIBAKO (WRITING BOX) WITH THE SUMIYOSHI SHRINE 住吉図蒔絵硯箱 Edo period (1615–1868) or Meiji era (1868–1912), 19th century
10 November 2015, 13:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £11,875 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Japanese Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSUZURIBAKO (WRITING BOX) WITH THE SUMIYOSHI SHRINE 住吉図蒔絵硯箱
Edo period (1615–1868) or Meiji era (1868–1912), 19th century
A miniature suzuribako with kabusebuta (overhanging lid), the four sides slightly curved, the rims of silver, decorated in gold, aokin, silver, and coloured hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and togidashi maki-e with extensive kirigane and nashiji, on the exterior the Sumiyoshi Shrine, indicated by its taikobashi (drum-shaped bridge), torii (entrance arch), and pine-clad seashore; the interior of the lid with a makura (pillow) decorated on one end with a baku (fabulous beast that devours bad dreams), lying on the ground and surrounded by autumn plants including hagi, kikyō, and ominaeshi, the interior of the box also with autumn plants including nogiku (wild chrysanthemums) and fitted with suzuri (ink stone), silver suiteki with karakusa (floral arabesque) designs, and with two associated lacquered brushes, a paper knife, and a pricker, the latter two with silver fittings
Unsigned
3.4 × 14 × 15.1 cm (1 3/8 × 5½ × 6 in.)
With black-lacquered storage box lined in dyed paper, the exterior inscribed in gold hiramaki-e On-suzuribako 御硯箱 (10)
Provenance
Nakazono Hiroshi Collection
中園宏旧蔵
A miniature suzuribako with kabusebuta (overhanging lid), the four sides slightly curved, the rims of silver, decorated in gold, aokin, silver, and coloured hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and togidashi maki-e with extensive kirigane and nashiji, on the exterior the Sumiyoshi Shrine, indicated by its taikobashi (drum-shaped bridge), torii (entrance arch), and pine-clad seashore; the interior of the lid with a makura (pillow) decorated on one end with a baku (fabulous beast that devours bad dreams), lying on the ground and surrounded by autumn plants including hagi, kikyō, and ominaeshi, the interior of the box also with autumn plants including nogiku (wild chrysanthemums) and fitted with suzuri (ink stone), silver suiteki with karakusa (floral arabesque) designs, and with two associated lacquered brushes, a paper knife, and a pricker, the latter two with silver fittings
Unsigned
3.4 × 14 × 15.1 cm (1 3/8 × 5½ × 6 in.)
With black-lacquered storage box lined in dyed paper, the exterior inscribed in gold hiramaki-e On-suzuribako 御硯箱 (10)
Provenance
Nakazono Hiroshi Collection
中園宏旧蔵
Footnotes
The combination of the Sumiyoshi Shrine with a pillow might be a reference to the following poem, number 598 from the Shin gosen wakashū anthology, completed in 1303:
Sumiyoshi no / matsu no iwane o / makura nite / Shikitsu no ura no / tsuki o miru kana
With a great pine-clad / rock on Sumiyoshi's shore / pillowing my head / I look up and see the moon / high above Shikitsu Bay
This exquisitely decorated small writing box was formerly owned by Nakazono Hiroshi, best known for his extensive collection of fountain pens.
