Galerie Zacke
Lot 357
A VERY RARE CHAMPLEVE-DECORATED IRON 'INRO-SHAPED' WRITING SETUnsigned Japan, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Of upright form and oval section, the hinged container cast as an inro with incised faux-cases, secured by a gilt-metal pin inserted in one of the cord holes, opening to reveal various small gilt-metal tools, including a brush, spoon, knife, and tweezers, as well as two hinged seal paste containers. The iron exterior is finely inlaid with prunus blossoms and dew drops in gilt-metal, silver, copper, and champleve enamel.HEIGHT 6 cmCondition: Good condition with minor wear and manufacturing flaws, tiny nicks, light surface scratches, few small losses to inlays, the interior with extensive traces of use, some of the gilt-metal fittings oxidized.Provenance: Formerly the property of the Strong Museum, donated by Margaret Woodbury Strong (1897-1969), a prolific collector and founder and namesake of the museum. The underside with an accession number, '75.534[0]'. The Strong National Museum of Play (known as just The Strong Museum or simply the Strong) in Rochester, New York is the only collections-based museum devoted solely to the study of play. With a metal netsuke cast in openwork as a hamaguri clam with floral and scroll decoration, attributed to Karamonoya Kyubei, who is mentioned in the Soken Kisho published in 1781. Kyubei is described as making ashtrays, Chinese-style cast netsuke and kuwara (rings used for a priest's kesa). Other designs include gourds, incense burners, eggs, and clams. Many other shapes were used for his Netsuke. Sophisticated designs such as rain dragons, arabesques, flowers, clouds, and spirals were skillfully combined to create an openwork finish. They are very high-quality, perfect netsuke, not too heavy, not too light, and are very comfortable to the touch.With a globular ojime with wire-inlaid decoration of ingots and pearls.
