Until 2nd May, 2025
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A FINE INLAID LACQUER THREE-CASE INRO WITH A BEAR AND CRABS
LOT 336- NE0524
Unsigned
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Of rounded square form, bearing a bright, red-lacquered ground, finely decorated in black and gold takamaki-e and hiramaki-e, kirigane, as well as inlays of raden (mother-of-pearl), to depict to the front a large Himalayan black bear with minutely detailed fur and eyes inlaid behind crystal. The bear crouches, its forelimbs supported on a craggy rock, as it turns its head to glare at the crab pinching its tail, yelping out in pain, while another crab peeks its head out, brilliantly camouflaged behind the rock. The verso decorated with a large crab raisings its pincers, lacquered in gold and inlaid with large sections of raden. The interior cases of nashiji with gold fundame edges.
With a lacquered wood ojime and a beautifully matching narwhal manju netsuke with a shell in silver to its center. The shell incised with concentric circles and fitted with a loop cord attachment.
HEIGHT 7.5 cm. LENGTH 7.5 cm
Condition: Good condition with wear. Tiny hairline to the first case and flaking to the corners and edges. The interior with traces of use. A small touchup to the bear's head.
Provenance: Bonhams, Fine Asian Works of Art, 13 December 2010, San Francisco, lot 5342. Midori Gallery, Miami, USA, acquired from the above. Collection of James and Christine Heusinger, acquired from the above. James and Christine Heusinger started collecting Japanese art in the late 1970s. James and Chirstine worked for a travel agency until James became a prominent carpenter, whose company renovated the office of US Vice President Dick Cheney’s office. His collection began with a modest piece by Seifu Yohei III and expanded to over 100 pieces. They donated the majority of their pieces to the Cleveland Museum of Art, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related lacquer inro with a bear, by Shigeyoshi, at Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part III, 15 May 2012, London, lot 242 (sold for GBP 3,500).
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