Beschreibung:

AN INLAID GOLD-LACQUER RECTANGULAR DEEP SUZURIBAKO (BOX FOR WRITING UTENSILS) AND COVER Edo period (1615-1868) or Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century The inrobuta (flush-fitting lid) predominantly decorated in gold takamaki-e and heavy pewter with turbulent waves in Rinpa style, embellished here and there with water droplets applied with gilt-metal studs, the design continuing over all four sides of the box, the exterior of the lid also scattered with four characters Yume no kayoiji (see below) in gold takamaki-e, the interior lacquered in gold mura-nashiji, with an en-suite detachable fitted tray and ita (baseboard) containing the suzuri (ink-grinding stone) and bronze suiteki (water dropper) in the form of a rat seated on a fundo (balance weight), the rims mounted with pewter, unsigned; with a plain lacquered-wood storage box. 8.3cm x 23.6cm x 19.2cm (3¼in x 9¼in x 7½in). (6).FootnotesThe four characters incorporated in the lid design are from a well-known poem that formed the literary theme for earlier lacquer boxes including one (now lost) designed by Honami Koetsu (1558-1637) and a copy made by Ogata Korin (1658–1716)—from whom the Rinpa style takes it name—in the Seikado Foundation, Tokyo, with an inscription by Korin saying that he saw the original box in Koetsu's home in Takagamine, Kyoto. The poem goes as follows, with elements of the design supplying some of the nouns (kishi [shore] and nami [wave]) in lieu of written words: Suminoe no / kishi ni yoru nami / yoru sae ya / yume no kayoiji / hitome yoguramu (At Suminoe / the waves break upon the shore / even in the night / Like them will you soon draw near / along the pathway of dreams?).