AN INLAID LACQUER BOX AND COVER WITH THE THIRD... Lot n° 7

AN INLAID LACQUER BOX AND COVER WITH THE THIRD PRINCESS (ONNO SAN NO MIYA) AND HER CAT FROM THE TALE OF GENJI Japan, second half of 19th century Well modeled as two overlapping boxes of rectangular form, the larger section with indented corners and bearing a kinji ground and finely decorated in gold and iro-e takamaki-e as well as shibuichi, shakudo, and silver takazogan to depict the Third Princess (Onno San no Miya) looking toward her cat playing with the hem of her long flowing court robe, the sides with stenciled designs of paulownia mon, ho-o bird, lotus, and butterfly, the corners with foliate designs, the smaller section with canted corners and bearing a wood ground similarly decorated with a swallow flying below wisteria, continuing over to the sides with another swallow perched on a branch. The unusual, red-lacquered interior with leafy vines and butterflies. SIZE 7.2 x 23 x 19 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few minuscule nicks, occasional light scratches, a minor loss to silver inlay. Provenance: British private collection. The present lacquer box depicts a scene from Chapter 34, Wakana no jo of Genji Monogatari (The Tales of Genji). The focal point of one of the tragic romances in the second half of The Tale of Genji is the childlike Third Princess (Onna San no Miya), whom Genji takes to wed in his middle years. While pursuing her runaway cat, the young girl emerges from her living quarters and is seen by Kashiwagi, son of Genji’s best friend, who falls in love with her. This results in a clandestine relationship, Kashiwagi’s guilt-inspired illness and death, and an infant passed off – with Genji’s unspoken knowledge of the truth – as Genji’s offspring.