A FINE RINPA-STYLE LACQUER SUZURIBAKO DEPICTING... Lot n° 30

A FINE RINPA-STYLE LACQUER SUZURIBAKO DEPICTING A YANEBUNE FISHING BOAT Japan, 19th century Of rectangular form, the writing box with an overhanging cover and chamfered edge, decorated in gold, silver, and black hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, nashiji and inlaid in patinated mitsuda (pewter) and pearlescent aogai, with a yanebune fishing boat beneath reeds, the details finely embellished, the interior of the cover with chrysanthemums entwined amongst a bamboo fence, the inner tray supporting a slate ink stone decorated in gold fundame, the design of the interior of the cover continuing on the base with further chrysanthemums among bamboo, all on a sparse nashiji ground, the silver water dropper (suiteki) finely carved and chased with petals and gold details signed ICHIYA saku (made by Ichiya). SIZE 25.1 x 23.5 x 5 cm Condition: Very good condition with only very minor wear and some manufacturing-inherent flaws to the base. One tiny old touchup to the rim of the cover and another tiny fill to one side of the box. With a fitted wood tomobako storage box. The present lot exemplifies the Rinpa school style, and particularly that of Hon'ami Koetsu (1558-1637). The Rinpa School was a key part of the Edo period revival of indigenous artistic interests in Japan described by the term yamato-e. Paintings, textiles, ceramics, and lacquerwares were decorated by Rinpa artists with vibrant colors applied in a highly decorative and patterned manner. Favored themes, which often contained evocative references to nature and the seasons, were drawn from Japanese literature, notably The Tale of Genji, The Tales of Ise, and Heian-period poems composed by courtiers. The present lot may be a rusu moyo (absent motif) for chapter 51 of The Tales of Genji. This chapter tells the story of the maiden Ukifune, literally “boat cast adrift”.