Beschreibung:

A RARE COLLECTION OF YATATE EDO PERIOD (18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES) A collection of yatate , portable writing implements containing a brush holder and ink well, contained in a five-tiered wood box fitted with purple silk interiors moulded to hold each piece; each tier fitted with padded silk cushions; each tier described generally from right to left with measurement of one piece given for scale, the set comprising: I. Ivory yatate , 19 cm., carved in the form of a slender bunch of grapes and three squirrels, the single grape at the tip the lid of the brush holder which slides out from the interior, the leaf on which sits the smallest squirrel forming the hinged cover of the inkwell Chinese gold and cinnabar lacquer brush case and soft-metal inkwell , the case decorated with dragons and immortals, one end unscrewing to open the case for the gilded collapsible brush; the inkwell composed of two fuchi and one kashira , one set matched, the plate in shakudo nanako and applied with gilt and shakudo family crests, two mon designed from shrine amulets ( mamori ), signed Yanagawa Naotaka , ca. 1800; silver tubular ojime Circular yatate , with silver clasp, hinge and attachment ring, the knob of the clasp also the tip of the silver shaft of the brush, cleverly pulling out of the well to allow the hinged lid to open to the inkwell, also fitted with a compass, poem on the cover in gold lacquer Lacquered, carved and gold-inlaid ivory yatate , in the form of a pipe case carved in high relief on the shaft with plum branches covered in glossy black lacquer and inlaid in gilded metal with random buds and blossoms set on the matte black lacquer ground, signed in an oval gilt cartouche Daito ; the plug of ivory carved with reticulated plums on the dome and with a seal character at the end; the inkwell stained ivory carved in sunken relief with plum branches, signed Hogyoku Silver yatate , with cylindrical shaft for the brush with curved knife-handle grip fitted with a deep rectangular inkwell with hinged lid, chased overall with foliate scroll; fitted with a small bell-form netsuke Lacquered bamboo yatate , one end hinged, a small bamboo-handled brush within Brush form yatate , constructed in the form of a large ink brush with dark wood cylindrical shaft and ivory ends, each ornamented with gold lacquer clouds, the cap of the brush container of silver cast to simulate a wetted ink brush and hinged to the adjoining ivory; the circular metal inkwell incised with leaf forms II. Zitan wood yatate , 23 cm., of cylindrical form, the container with one brush sliding out of the open-sided sheath, the inkwell matching wood modelled as a Chinese immortal and attendant, a branch of peaches on their backs serving as the removable lid of the ink cavity as well as the himotoshi ; soft metal ojime Gold-plated brass yatate , cast in the form of a three case inro applied with the major utensils used in the tea ceremony in shakudo , silver, copper and gold, a side pin removable to allow the case to open on a hinge, fitted on the interior with scissors, knife and brush, waterwell and inkwell, and two fan shaped miniature frames; coral bead ojime ; painted wood figural netsuke Small brass yatate , cast in the form of a rectangular shelf, a silver-handled sword on the top, sliding 'door' opening to the inkwell, the ring attachment also the tip of the removable collapsible brush Ivory-inlaid wood yatate , carved as a biwa , a sliding rectangular lid for the inkwell, twisted wire strings distressed, minor cracks Soft-metal umbrella yatate , the gilt handle of the parasol unscrewing to contain the brush and the tip also unscrewing to contain the inkwell, the midsection finished in silver with a gilt plum lozenge and the two end sections shakudo Lacquered bamboo and silver yatate , the outer container of oval section lacquered in ochre and red with maple, ginko and other autumn leaves, signed Chikuseki and sealed, enclosing an oval silver writi