Spoils of Time Asian Ceramics and Works of Art
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All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1837 VR item #1337646
Spoils of Time
$4,900.00
This is one of the more intriguing lacquer objects we have owned. Adorned with maki-e Aoe (hollyhock) Ka-mon on nashiji ground (also known as the Kamo Aoi as it was sacred to the Kamo shrine), family crest for prominent daimyo families including the Tokugawa and the Matsudaira during the Momoyama and Edo periods. Even the drawer pull is fashioned as an open worked shibuichi Aoe Ka-mon with the surprise of a textured, kinko (soft metal) raised backing only if you look for it. More interesting yet is the unusual form of this object - perhaps an only opportunity to acquire an example. Resembling a food tray on stand, it nonetheless has a drawer (not common to the form.) And a tall cover comes with a screen (silk?) as if to permit viewing whilst keeping something either in or out. We have not found another example of the form and so are not certain if it might be a covered dining tray (though the drawer) if intended to keep bugs out. Or perhaps it is in fact an insect terrarium (someone suggested it might be a large "cricket cage" or for praying mantis - maybe even to observe mantis combat) keeping the bugs in as it were. We can only speculate at the moment and heartily welcome suggestions or insight - maybe something not yet considered. The covered stand is in rather good condition for a mid Edo lacquer object. Good condition with expected testimony of age and use. There are the usual small lacquer losses mostly to edging (not at all detracting.) There is some fading - varying to the extent exposed to light (see our enlargement comparing surfaces of exterior, screened interior, drawer interior.) There is one minutely small handle stop stud missing from the screened cover. 18th to early 19th century. 13 inches (33.02 cm) high, 9 5/8 (24.45 cm) inches wide, 12 inches (30.48 cm) long.

Since listing this item, someone has suggested its holding fireflies (hotaru) as a possible use.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1920 item #1243307
Spoils of Time
$180.00
Japanese Kamakura-Bori lacquer box on tray. The cover with bold, high-relief carving of bird in branch - the almost black surface rubbed to a soft, coral-red toned burnished finish. The softly irregular honeycomb textured ground with leathery texture continuing to the sides of the box bottom and into the rim of the tray with edges also rubbed to the underlying coral-red and burnished smooth. Signed under the tray. Surfaces with some distress from use including minor rubbing and scratching with very little lacquer loss. One smaller side of the cover had been detached and poorly glued back with the complication of some warping. This object presents a very promising conservation project. Tray length, 7 3/4 inches (19.7 cm)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1900 item #1229996
Spoils of Time
Sold
Distressed Japanese Iki mask with crystal eyes. Gofun finish over dry lacquer composition. Details including veins, wrinkles and furrows. The surface is in a distressed state with significant losses and some 'alligatored' texture possibly from exposure to elements. Would make a worthy conservation project for someone with the patience to recoat and touch up losses (the missing left ear being most challenging.) Length, about 9 1/4 inches (23.49 cm)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1900 item #1187795
Spoils of Time
SOLD
Japanese hand drum used with Kabuki, Noh and Minyo. The hourglass shaped wood body with Makie gold on black lacquer decoration of Ho-o No Tori (phoenix). Capped on either end by stretched hide with black lacquer detailing on the outward facing stretched surfaces and rims and with gold lacquer on the inward facing surfaces - the two hide ends held taught over the cupped ends off the wooden body with orange cord. The lacquered wooden body is in good condition. The stretched lacquered hide ends in distressed condition. Overall length about 10 3/8 inches.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1920 item #1145959
Spoils of Time
$1,000.00
A Japanese lacquer bowed top box with portrait of a Kabuki actor - presumably named in gold lacquer and the role of Daihachi named in a lustrous iron color. All slightly raised work, the portrait is in gray, black, red, flesh tone, browns and gold. Lines including pattern and folds in the figure's attire and hair in his coiffure and sideburns cleanly defined with raised work. Metal along the facing edges of the top and bottom have no doubt contributed nicely to the preservation of the box. Actor portraits being not uncommon in woodblock prints, we have only found one example in lacquer - an important inro sold by Bonhams in May 2011. The present box is not signed and does not enjoy the colorful provenance of the Bonhams' inro. The condition of this box is fair with small losses on corners and edges (see our illustrations), light surface wear and need of a cleaning. The top has a very slight warp mostly along the length so that the facing metal edges do not rest entirely flush on one side (otherwise would not be noticed and probably not surprising with a little shrinkage over time.) There is no wrinkling, no blisters, no peeling at all to the lacquer (solid work.) This should touch up and clean up nicely in the hands of a qualified lacquer conservationist. It was difficult to capture the raised work in our photographs. Our last enlargements are taken close and under direct halogen light at angles that distort the composition and exaggerate wear but which highlight the raised work. Length, 6 inches (15.24 cm), Width 3 3/8 inches (8.57 cm), Height 1 1/2 inches (3.81 cm). Late Meiji, possibly early Taisho.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1900 item #1091256
Spoils of Time
Sold, Shipped to Italy
A 19th century Japanese kyodai (mirror stand) comprised of the stand on two drawer chest. Decorated with gold hiramaki-e and nashiji lacquer techniques depicting pines, prunus and grasses in rocky landscape. The prunus blossoms rendered in oxidized silver haku-e with gold details. Engraved metal terminals adorn scrolled elements and the base of the holder. Two metal insets with Paulownia Mon also adorn the mirror holder as well as the two drawer pulls. Gilt mostly worn from the metal ornaments but with noticeable traces on the Mon insets. The Paulownia Mon has been said to rank second only to the Chrysanthemum. The mon was used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, conferred by him to successful generals and is associated with branches of the Matsudaira clan among others. Kyodai (mirror stands) were an important part of a wedding trousseau. Condition is adequate for a study piece and for a dramatic and presentable decoration. The mirror holder is in relatively good condition, the drawer fronts in reasonably good restored condition, but the sides of the chest with some distress and losses (a worthy conservation project if one is inclined.) With the mirror holder removed, fading (from light and wear) can be observed between the covered area and the rest of the top [see our enlargement 9]. We will be happy to e-mail full size copies of any of our enlargements in response to requests for greater detail. Overall height: 24 3/4 in (62.86 cm). Chest height: 10 1/4 in (26 cm). Length and Width both 10 3/4 in (27.3 cm). Note that mirror holder detaches but will still require a fairly sizeable box to ship safely (shipping and packing extra.)