A LACQUERED RYOSHIBAKO (DOCUMENT BOX) AND COVER WITH DECORATION OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS


Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, circa 1912-1938Of standard rounded rectangular form with inrobuta (flush-fitting lid) and silver rims, entirely covered in black lacquer and decorated mainly in gold and some aokin and silver hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and togidashi maki-e with gold hirame, kinpun, and kirigane, the outside depicting chrysanthemums (a mixture of plain and fancy long-petalled varieties) growing by rustic fences, the inside depicting chrysanthemums by a steam, the other surfaces fine gold nashiji, unsigned; with wooden storage box. 15.5cm x 33.7cm x 43cm (6 1/8in x 13¼in x 16 7/8in). (3).
|The motif of flowers by a fence, first seen in Japanese lacquer during the thirteenth century, derives from a poem by the Chinese poet Tao Yuanming (365-427), renowned for his modesty, love of nature, and disregard for worldly ambition. The fifth of Tao's celebrated Twelve Songs in Praise of Wine contains the couplet:I pick chrysanthemums growing beneath the East FenceAnd gaze at the Southern Mountains in the far distance.