Lot 1120
Japanese letter/document box (Fubako) with gold maki-e on black urushi lacquer, probably late Edo–Meiji (19th century)
Works of Art, Antiquities & Ancient Art | A109kua | Live auction | 1190 Lots
Description
Lidded wooden box with black urushi lacquer coating. The front features a circular pierced hole in the central shaped field, likely formerly used for attaching a fastening or cord (himo) based on comparative typology. The exterior decorated throughout with gold maki-e ornament depicting stylized pine needles and circular family crests (kamon), probably maru-ni tachibana. Rectangular body with rounded edges and an overlapping lidded top; front and reverse each with a shaped cut-out handle. Interior decorated with gold-speckled maki-e (hirame-like) on a reddish-brown ground, with regularly placed, circular-effect fields evoking a tortoiseshell/“bekkō” appearance. Exterior with pronounced signs of use including scratches and abrasions, wear to the gilt decoration, and knocks to edges and corners; localized lacquer losses, among them a distinct vertical area of damage to the body exposing the substrate. Interior likewise with scratches, abrasions, and scattered losses; small chips and losses to the metal edges also visible. Dimensions approximately 9 × 42 × 12.4 cm.Condition: II - III Questions about the lot?
