SANO HIROSHI: A CERAMIC-INLAID SILVERED-METAL BOX AND COVER WITH A STAG BEETLEBy Sano Hiroshi (b. 1930), signed and sealed by the artistJapan, c. 1960The box and cover of rounded rectangular form, the slightly domed cover chased and incised with leaves and inlaid with aubergine-glazed ceramic to depict a stag beetle, the interior lined with felt, the base signed HIROSHI. Note the peculiar manner of decoration to the metal, creating appealingly contrasting textures.SIZE 25 x 25 x 7.4 cmWEIGHT 1,266 gCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: Dutch collection.With the original wood tomobako with hakogaki reading Seika, Sano Hiroshi (High-summer, made by Sano Hiroshi) and a seal, Hiroshi.Sano Hiroshi was born in Jushiyama, Aichi prefecture in 1930, and graduated from the Nagoya Municipal School of Crafts in 1950. That year he joined the Ando Shippo Cloisonné studio. Three years later he would begin expanding his knowledge of metalcraft under Sekiya Shiro while remaining employed by Ando, where he would remain until 1967. He became a member of the Kofukai in 1961 and would consistently exhibit there, receiving many awards. Shortly thereafter he began also to exhibit with the Nitten National Exhibition, garnering several awards and mentions there. In 1967 he established a center for the study of crafts and his art became ever more eccentric, delving deeply into form over purpose. A master in both metal craft and cloisonné, he would also be awarded at the Nihon Shinkogeiten (New Crafts Exhibition). He was the subject of several documentaries in Japan made in the 1970s and 1980s. For his contribution to Japanese art, he was granted the Order of Cultural Merit from Aichi prefecture in 1982.