Suzuribako antique wooden writing box from School of Ogawa Haritsu (1663-1747)

Wooden suzuribako decorated with lacquer, lead, ceramic and raden inserts
Signed: Kan saku, with the artist’s seal “Kan”
19.5 cm x 23 cm x 4cm

This antique wooden writing box is decorated with an oi, the traditional yamabushi backpack, lying under a maple tree between different flowers. The interior is decorated with another maple tree from which comes out a young deer. Some of the leaves of both the trees are in different materials such as porcelain and raden, giving to the composition a great dynamism. The water dropper is shaped as a group of feathers.
Ogawa Haritsu (1663-1747), who is usually known by his sobriquet, Ritsuo, was born holding the rank of the samurai but he early renounced the career of arms to turn in towards art. He was one of the first artists to incorporate diverse materials into his lacquer wares, utilizing the excellent adhesive qualities of lacquer to combine wood glazed ceramic, metal, shell, and other materials with traditional maki-e techniques obtaining eccentric and fine results. A revival of interest in Haritsu's style and techniques during the 19th century is best exemplified in the copies of his work by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), the foremost Japanese lacquerer of the 19th century.

Price band: 10,000€ - 25,000€