Antique Japanese Ink Stone Maki-e Lacquer Box Suzuribako Edo Provenance

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A Japanese ink stone box (known as Suzuribako) with exquisite maki-e decoration from Edo period (circa mid-18th century). The box … Read more A Japanese ink stone box (known as Suzuribako) with exquisite maki-e decoration from Edo period (circa mid-18th century). The box features a rectangular form with edges of beveled straight lines, rounded, three inner trays, two for holding brush pens and tools, and the center one for holding the ink stone and a silver-plated bronze water-dropper (Suiteki). The exterior and interior side of the lid was masterly decorated with maki-e, one of the most stunning examples we have seen. The outside of the lid depicts a botanical scene with pine trees with gnarled trunks interspersed with bamboo cluster and persimmon trees bearing abundant fruits, set among a landscape with rock crops. The flora indicates autumn, a golden season of harvest. Pine and bamboo are the most enduring beloved motifs in Japanese as symbols of their cold-resistant hardness. On the foreground there were two small turtles (Minogame). In the sky, a pair of cranes were flying. Most animals were emblems of longevity. The imagery was set against a background of dense gold nashiji. The interior of the lid, as well as the two inner trays, features similar maki-e "tour-de-force". depicting similar floral scene complimentary to the facade with variations in composition. In the center, the ink stone and a round waterdrop were set in their respective compartment.
Hiramakie and takamakie were used extensively to create the images, with the golden square inlays (Kirigane) and fundame on the borders. The base was finished in polished black lacquer.
The suzuribako was purchased from Yoshida Curio, Kyoto, Japan in May 1966. It comes together with the original receipt in Japanese with handwritten English note. It was professionally restored by Japanese American lacquer artist Sadae Yamamoto Walters (born 1920) in 1997 and retains a two-page letter from Sadae to the previous owner. See less