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Lot 79
A Rare Nanban-Style Lacquer Kagamibako [Mirror Box]
Momoyama - Edo period (late 16th - early 17th century)
Closed8 December 2016
Price Realised
GBP 22,500
More Information
Specialist note
During the Momoyama period new stylish designs began to appear on lacquer ware. This box for example is decorated with radiating narrow lines which must have been regarded as quite extraordinary at the time. The designs of this type of lacquer ware usually depict landscapes, plants, flowers and animals. These extremely rare geometric patterns are inspired by the design of textiles from South East Asia and the Middle East brought to Japan by European traders. The chrysanthemum design on the base is possibly inspired by the original mirror contained in the box.
The stripes - shima - so named because these stripes are often seen in designs of imported foreign textiles known as shimamono or shima watari.
For examples of Nanban lacquerware with similar stripe design see:
James C.Y. Watt and Barbara B. Ford, East Asian Lacquer: The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1991), p. 229, no. 107. (jubako [tiered food box])
Tokyo National Museum A Selection of Japanese Art from The Mary and Jackson Burke Collection (New York, 1985), pl. 112
Sakai City Museum ed., Nanban shikki - shitsugei ni miru tozai koryu [Namban lacquerware - Cultural Exchanges between East and West through Lacquer Craft], (Osaka, 1983), cat. no. 65 (fubako [letter case], Nanban Bunkakan, Osaka), 73 (chabako [tea box], Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo), 83-84 (jubako, Nanban Bunkakan), 85 (jubako, a private collection), 86 (jubako, Okayama Art Museum, Okayama),
and go to the website of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession number 2015.500.2.31a–f:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection
The stripes - shima - so named because these stripes are often seen in designs of imported foreign textiles known as shimamono or shima watari.
For examples of Nanban lacquerware with similar stripe design see:
James C.Y. Watt and Barbara B. Ford, East Asian Lacquer: The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1991), p. 229, no. 107. (jubako [tiered food box])
Tokyo National Museum A Selection of Japanese Art from The Mary and Jackson Burke Collection (New York, 1985), pl. 112
Sakai City Museum ed., Nanban shikki - shitsugei ni miru tozai koryu [Namban lacquerware - Cultural Exchanges between East and West through Lacquer Craft], (Osaka, 1983), cat. no. 65 (fubako [letter case], Nanban Bunkakan, Osaka), 73 (chabako [tea box], Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo), 83-84 (jubako, Nanban Bunkakan), 85 (jubako, a private collection), 86 (jubako, Okayama Art Museum, Okayama),
and go to the website of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession number 2015.500.2.31a–f:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection