Description: A LACQUER BUNDAI. Circle of Shibata Zeshin, 20th Century. A square low writing table, supported by bracket shaped feet, the top panel decorated with Daikoku loading a rice-bale on a horse, in various coloured lacquer and gold speckles on the dark blue seido-nuri ground, signed Zeshin with a red seal mark, Taikyoi, with a fitted wooden box, 33 x 60.5 x 10.5cm. (2) Exhibited: Mishima Taisha, Shizuoka, Japan, Tokubetsuten, Bakumatsuki makie kaiga no waza, Shibata Zeshin, 1998. Published: Ryokusho vol. 25, the special edition, Makie p 25. 蒔絵文台、銘是真 Shibata Zeshin (1807 – 1891), is regarded as one of the pioneers among Japanese lacquer artists in the 19th century, reinvented the surface decoration techniques with texture assimilating natural objects, such as bronze and stone that had traditionally been used to coat samurai sword scabbards. Zeshin and his pupils used the ‘gritty coating method’ achieved by mixing metal or charcoal powders with lacquer, to decorate everyday objects such as inro and stationery boxes. Such work became popular amongst sophisticated townsmen during the Edo period. Notes: Asian Art