A Gold-lacquer portable sage-jubako (picnic box)


Edo period (1615-1868), early/mid-19th centuryComprising a rectangular lobed frame fitted with a silver handle and with an open fitted shelf towards the top, the frame containing a rectangular lobed four-tiered box, lacquered on the interior with overlapping cherry blossoms and on the exterior with bands of repeated hanabishi-mon (flowery-diamond crests), the cover with a group of karako (Chinese boys) in Korean attire rolling a large snowball, the bottom with a sake ewer in the form of a drum with tomo-e (comma) shapes resting above a lobed rounded deep tray with an interior design of overlapping cherry blossoms and a second shallow tray decorated with a group of karako enacting a similar scene, the sides of the frame in the form of a flute between open fans, the decoration on the top of the frame with karako playing Daruma-san ga koronda (Statues), all lacquered in predominantly gold and polychrome hiramaki-e, unsigned; with a wood storage box attached with a paper slip inscribed Karako asobi maki-e jidai sageju (Maki-e picnic box with design of karako playing). 20cm x 23.5cm x 23.5cm (7 7/8in x 9¼in x 9¼in). (10).
|Published and illustratedMurashige Yasushi and Kirihata Ken eds., Nihon no bijutsu ni miru sakura ('Sakura' in Japanese Art), exhibition catalogue, Tokyo, Asahi Shinbunsha, 1989, p.129. no.120.