Late 18th Century Lacquer

This exquisite four-case lacquered inro was dated to the latter part of 18th century to early 19th century (Edo period) and made by Shigehide. The opposite sides of the inro together features a lavish flower arrangement in a bamboo basket (ikebana). The detailed craftmanship was a true pleasure to behold. Mostly Takamaki-e (high relief) were used to texturize the delicate petals of the chrysanthemums, on which different shades of gold were used to create contrast. Raden (mother of pearl) shells were also used to highlight some leaves, rendering the piece an interesting balance of color and material. The interior was completed in a mottled gold finish. It was signed Shigehide on the bottom with a Kao. There is a small carved rabbit ojime bead...

Travel desk made of lacquered and gilded wood with drawers inside, reserved scenes with figures in palatial environments surrounded by flowers, birds and Taoist symbols. Exquisite E...

Japanese box with lacquer lid finely decorated with Maki-e, dating from the 18th century, mid-Edo period. The box is of special size to preserve important calligraphy. All sides of ...

Chinese cinnabar very finely carved box circa late 18th or early 19th century. The multiple lacquered layers of red over black over amber, the cover carved with a scene of Kwan Yin i...

An 18th/19th Century Chinese cinnabar circular box with multiple cartouches of Families. This is a marvelous piece with very fine details on the main top panel of the box. The top pa...

A Japanese lacquered wood fubako (a box to store document or small scroll painting) circa late 18th century of Edo period. The rectangular box features a deep lid with rounded corners and recessed mid-edge and a lower box with two bronze medallion rings and tasseled silk ties. The surface of the fubako was elaborately decorated with hiramaki-e and a low takamaki-e on a mottled Mura-nashiji background. The motifs on the lid depict branches of Japanese pine with finely rendered needles on the lower part; on the upper part, it showcases fruited persimmon branches. Two different shades of gold fundame were used to contrast the design and augmented by scattered gold kirigane to highlight some of the leaves. The design continues and cascades down to all sides of the lid as well as the walls of the box. The two bronze medallions appear original to the box and the silk ties show significant fading from the age. This Fine fubako is signed on the lower wall "Kanshosai" in Kanji with a kao mark. All the trims were finished in gold fundame and the interiors a dense nashiji in gold. Kanshosai is the mark of the distinguished lacquer artist Lizuka Toyo I who also signed his work "Toyosai". He was active in the second half of the 18th century during Edo period, employed by Hachisuka Shigeyoshi (1738-1801), daimyo of Awa on Shikoku Island. Although most survived work bearing his marks are inros, he was also known to decorated trays and other larger objects...

Pair of Chinese Chippendale Qing Dynasty red lacquered king wood serpentine crest curvature arm chairs with decorative carved straight legs and original connecting stretchers. Mid 19...

Black and gold lacquer suzuribako (writing set) in takamaki-e on a nashi-ji background representing two tigers near rocks, bamboos and plum blossoms in a night landscape. Inside of the lid with a lake landscape. The interior of the suzuribako is composed with an inkstone, topped by a copper water bucket in the shape of a chrysanthemum on the left side, with a brush and a small knife. It includes in the right part a storage compartment. Inscription under the inkstone "Inkstone made by Nakamura Chobe". Although the tiger is not native to Japan, it has a high symbolic. The figure of courage was introduced by Buddhism from China. According to the Chinese tradition, the tiger is from one of the stars of the Great...

Very large eight-panel sreen with richly decorated landscape vedutas, partly architectural. Very fine execution in coromandel lacquer partially accented with gold. The screen is exec...

A pair of fine Japanese export lacquered cutlery boxes Kyoto or Nagasaki, late 18th century H. 33.5 x W. 24 x D. 21 cm The bow-fronted boxes with sloping lids flat at the top are made of hinoki wood (Cypress), coated with Japanese paper and decorated in lacquer with scattered gold birds and flowers on a nashiji background. The Japanese mounts are made of copper and both boxes still have internal partitions to keep the cutlery upright. The form of these boxes is similar to a pictorial-style knife box in the collection of the Groninger Museum (inv. 1989- 347), dated between 1730 and 1780, but the style of the decoration is more like that on a knife box in the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem (inv. E62271), which was brought to Salem by James Devereux, Captain of the Franklin, in 1799. Provenance: Henriette Jeane Christine van Neukirchen, called Nyvenheim (1807- 1849) and Nicolaas Johan Steengracht van Oostcapelle (1806-1866), thence by descent to the last owners, Ludolphine Emilie baronesse Schimmelpenninck van der Oye (1944) married in 1969 to Roland Daniel van Haersma Buma (1944), the last residents of castle Duivenvoorden near Voorschoten and the great-great-granddaughter of Nicolaas Johan Steengracht van Oostcapelle. There is no evidence that Nicolaas Johan himself, or any of his or his wife’s ancestors had ever been in Japan. However, Nicolaas’ grandfather (Nicolaas Steengracht, 1754-1840) was a director of both the VOC and WIC (West Indies Company...

Swedish black lacquered and gilt Chinoiserie tall case clock with arched decorative floral hood, flanking finials, turned bulbous columns, ormolu and steel engraved face, figural flo...

With chrysanthemum motif and a gilded bronze lid. Includes unsigned collector's box. Interior measurements: 7 1/2" opening, 5 1/4" deep.

This beautiful late 18th century marriage dowry box is an exquisite example of Indian craftsmanship. Made of teak with a patinated red lacquered surface, int...

with chrysanthemum motif and a gilded bronze lid. Includes unsigned collector's box. interior measurements: 7 1/2" opening, 5 1/4" deep.

Antique 18th century export Chinese lacquer gaming box with hand painted scenes gilt export black lacquer, there are 7 gaming boxes and 12 trays, size: ...

Antique unique Qing dynasty very large 20” pair of shell inlaid black lacquer big Chinese book boxes with bail handles two sides, with keys, each with hinged lid reversing to a mothe...

An important Japanese lacquer Maki-É Panel Depicting St. Petersburg on the River Neva, with the winter palace on the left and the academy of science on the right, 18th century. Nagasaki, 1780-1800 In black lacquer on copper, the front decorated in maki-é, the back inscribed, Vue Perspective des Bords de la Neva en descendant la Rivière entre le Palais d'hyver de sa Majesté Impériale et les batiments de l'Académie des Sciences à St Petersburg in gold and inlaid with flowers in mother of pearl. Measures: H 23 x W 39 cm The present plaque is identical to one in the Museum of Japanese History in Sakura and another one in the Museum of Peter the Great in St. Petersburg. (see: Oliver Impey & Christiaan Jörg, Japanese Export Lacquer, 1580-1850, p. 52-53) This last one was given to Catherine the Great in 1794 by the Swedish medical doctor Johan Arnold Stutzer who had served with the VOC in Deshima in 1787-1788. Apparently, such plaques were not unique and may have been made in several copies. This was certainly the case with the smaller lacquer oval portrait medallions (see for instance Uit Verre Streken, June 2017, no. 62) The scene of St. Petersburg was copied from an optical print taken by Stutzer to Japan, as shown by Yasumasa Oka of the Kobe City Museum. Stutzer in his diary writes: “I am the first to bring them (i.e. the Japanese) original pictures such as a view of St Petersburg and of Rudolf XV on horseback and try to have them made (in lacquer). According to the Japanese, it is the first time that these two pictures will be copied. Other products that I also ordered, for example, pictures of sea battles, are also appreciated as absolute masterpieces”. For two lacquered plaques depicting the sea battle of Dogger Bank in 1781 between the Dutch and the English navies, see Uit Verre Streken, December 2013, nr. 39 and March 2015, nr 56. Johan Strutzer at the same time also presented six beautiful Japanese glass telescopes to Catherine the Great of Russia, like the two Japanese glass telescopes illustrated in Uit Verre Streken, March 2015, item 59 and 60 and the one in the Kobe City Museum (illustrated in: Japan Envisions the West, 16th-19th Century Japanese Art...

Japanese Samurai Abumi Stirrups lacquer Edo late 18th century, early 19th century. Measures: 12 inch length, 10 inch height, 5.5 inch width. AVANTIQUES is dedicated to providing an...

Chinese six-panel folding screen with decorative carved forest with standing and flying cranes, with reverse side depicting village and figures of people, terminating on brass square...