The Trudy and John Cohen Collection

THE JAPANESE LACQUER BOXES, COMBS & OTHERS

 
With the full descriptions

To Find the Original Large Photographs
 Note the identity (letter and number) found in the description

Kogo, Kobako and a Tray

L40          L47

L38          L45

L39

Lacquer group of four Kogo and a tray.

Market Scene (Small Document Box)

Togidashi lacquer.

L33

A finely decorated small document box in gold and coloured togidashi on a roiro ground with a busy street market scene.

Dimensions: 15.4cm x 13cm x 2.1cm
Provenance: Tomkinson collection, Sotheby's
Published: Item 365 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

The design shows strong affinities with the ukiyoe artists Sukenobu and Mitsunobu and the dress and hairstyles are in the fashion of the early 18th century.

Imperial Ox Cart Kobako

Fine gold lacquer Kobako.

L34

An extremely fine Ko-bako in the shape of two overlapping square boxes. One with a rich kinji ground decorated in hiramakie, and hirame, with kikumon and kirimon, the latter enriched with hirame, the other decorated with sudare, oikake-kammuri, and aoi leaves on a gyobu ground, the nashiji interior containing a fitted tray decorated with an Imperial ox-cart, and cherry trees, in hiramakie on a kinji ground within a gyobu and kikumon border. In kiri wood box.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 10.5cm x 9.2cm x 6.5cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Sotheby's 1981

The exceptional quality of this box, and the absence of a signature, suggests that it may have been made to order for a wealthy merchant or a member of a noble family.

Six Fold Screen Kobako

Togidashi lacquer Kobako.

L35

A togidashi Kobako in the form of a six fold screen showing a landscape with a pine tree, beside a turbulent lake, below the setting sun.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 11.8cm x 8cm x 2cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Sotheby's 1973
Published: Item 361 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Little Fox Sword Kobako

Togidashi lacquer Kobako.

L36

A Kobako in the form of two overlapping boxes. One shows the figure of the swordsmith Munechika forging the sword ``Little Fox'' assisted by the Fox spirit in the guise of a woman. The other is covered with a mass of gold and coloured togidashi kiku.

The interior tray finely decorated in gold togidashi with a scene of three foxes running in a landscape that has a dream like quality.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 12cm x 6.4cm x 3cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Gaskell Collection, Sotheby's 1975
Published: Item 358 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Children Playing Instruments Kobako

Lacquer Somada style Kobako.

L37

A fine Kobako containing four boxes for perfume, decorated in Somada style lacquer and gold.  The cover shows children playing various musical instruments in a garden outside a terrace. The sides of the cover are decorated with fundame pattern and shell emblems.

The set of four boxes fitted inside, are similarly worked with flowering plants, butterflies, and birds.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 9.2cm x 11.1cm x 4cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Sotheby's
Published: Item 362 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Sake Cup Kogo

Zeshin school lacquer Kogo.

L38

A Kogo in the style of Shibata Zeshin, decorated on the roughened green lacquer ground with a sake cup bearing the character Ju (long life) and a kiku spray in gold and red takamakie, the interior in gold and silver nashiji.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 9.2cm x 7.2cm x 1.8cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Richard Marchant 1973
Published: Item 360 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Chrysanthemum & Crushed Eggshell Tray

Unsigned tray.

L39

A rare tray with a brown lacquer border surrounding a crushed eggshell ground, decorated with chrysanthemum flowers, in gold takamakie.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 15.5cm x 10.3cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Michael Dean 1978

Unsigned lacquer Kogo.

L40

A small gold Kogo in the form of an uchiwa, decorated with flowers and grasses. The inside cover beautifully decorated with flowers on banks beside a stream. Rich nashiji interior and base.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 8.3cm x 6.6cm x 2cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Sotheby's 1972
Published: Item 357 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Hotei Kogo

Unsigned togidashi lacquer Kogo.

L41

A rare small togidashi Kogo, in the form of a clam, the cover decorated on the rogin ground in gold, and coloured, togidashi with Hotei laughing as he sits, leaning against his large bag. The interior is a rich copper and gold nashiji.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 7.3cm x 6cm x 1.3cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Eskenazi 1972

Insects Kogo

Unsigned lacquer Kogo.

L42

A small circular black lacquer Kogo decorated with three flying insects, in mottled brown takamakie, on a roiro ground. The interior finely decorated with a mass of autumn flowers in gold and silver togidashi.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 6.4cm diameter x 1.8cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Sotheby's 1974
Published: Item 363 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Kiku Blooms Kobako

Unsigned lacquer Kobako

L43

A togidashi Kobako of circular, and domed form, decorated all over with kiku blooms in gold and coloured togidashi against a black roiro ground.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 8cm diameter x 1.5 cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Sotheby's 1973
Published: Item 364 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Koshinsai lacquer Kogo.

L44

A fine Kogo decorated in gold on a black ground. The cover and sides show scenes of bamboo growing beside a running stream.

The tray similarly decorated, the interior and base decorated in rich gyobu.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 7.8cm x 6.5cm x 3.9cm.
Signed: Koshinsai
The signature is illustrated in E A Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists, p.150.
Provenance: Sotheby's 1973
Published: Item 366 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Waterfall Scene Kogo

Unsigned lacquer Kogo.

L45

A fine gold Kogo (incense box) of rectangular form decorated in hiramakie with a formalised landscape of a mountainous area, with several farmers' huts, close to a river, among trees, including pine and weeping willow. A waterfall springs into the river, inlaid in silver wire, while some roof-tops are inlaid in gold. Other details on the huts are inlaid in aogai. The background and the sides are of fine nashiji. The interior and the base are in gold hirame. The cover and the base are reinforced with a silver rim.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 9.5cm x 8.5cm x 2.8cm.
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Eskenazi 1981

Crayfish Kobako

Unsigned Tsuishu lacquer Kobako.

L46

A Kobako in the form of two overlapping boxes; one of tsuishu carved in relief with a crayfish on a wave ground, the other with gold takamakie shells on a gyobu-nashiji ground, good interior nashiji.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 8.7cm x 7.3cm x 2.4cm.
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Sidney Moss 1978

Open Book Kobako

Unsigned lacquer Kobako.

L47

A fine togidashi Kobako in the form of an open book, the binding with togidashi scrolling peonies and rinzu pattern in gold and coloured hiramakie. The interior in nashiji.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 8.1cm x 6.9cm x 1cm.
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Sidney Moss 1978

Eizan lacquer Kobako.

L48

A Kobako bearing a kinji ground with gyobu-nashiji edges, decorated with three sparrows beneath an omodaka bush in gold and silver takamakie. The interior decorated with gold takamakie butterflies on an usu-nashiji ground.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 8.4cm x 7.5cm x 2.2cm.
Signed: Eizan with kakihan
Provenance: Sidney Moss 1978

Bird.

Sword & Armour Kobako

Unsigned lacquer Kobako.

L49

A rectangular Kobako decorated with a suit of armour and sword all in gold and coloured takamakie on a nashiji ground.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 10.4cm x 7.7cm x 2.2cm.
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Sotheby's in 1973
Published: Item 359 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Tied Sack Kashibako

Unsigned lacquer Kashibako.

L50

A Kashibako in the form of a tied sack decorated all over with chrysanthemums in gold, red, and silver takamakie.

The interior fitted tray decorated with a willow and plum tree.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 10cm x 8.5cm x 4cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Sotheby's 1973
Published: Item 356 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Bugaku Drum Kogo

Somada lacquer Kogo.

L51

A small Kogo of square form, with Somada style decoration all over. The cover is decorated with a Bugaku drum, and a blossoming cherry tree, in sheet gold. This drum is part of the Sarugaku, an early dance of military (or religious character) which preceded the No Gaku or the No dance. The sides are decorated with alternate panels of formal chequered designs. The edge of the box is rimmed with silver.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 6cm x 6cm x 3.1cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Eskenazi 1981

Ichiyosai lacquer comb.

L52

A gold lacquer comb decorated in hiramakie with plants and butterfly.

Japan, late 19th century
Signed: Ichiyosai
Provenance: Michael Dean 1981
Dimensions: 10.1cm long x 4cm.

Ichiyosai was a member of the Kajikawa family of lacquers, working at the end of the 19th century.

Yoyusai lacquer comb.

L53

A gold lacquer comb decorated in hiramakie and with cherry fruits formed from inlaid coral.

Signed: Yoyusai
Also signed: Hoitsu hitsu (this is for Sakai Hoitsu, an 18th century painter, from which the design was taken, hitsu meaning "drew").

Japan, 19th century
Provenance: Michael Dean 1981
Design ref: Hoitsu (1722-1845)
Dimensions: 10.8cm long x 4.5cm.

Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845) was a prolific worker and had a large workshop, It is likely, therefore that a number of pieces that bear his name were made in his workshop, under his guidance. (Hoitsu's brush ie the design taken from a painting by Hoitsu).

Pine & Mon Comb

Unsigned lacquer comb.

L54

A red and gold comb decorated in hiramakie with Pine and Mon on both sides.

Japan, late 19th century
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Michael Dean 1981
Dimensions: 12.2cm long x 6.5cm.

Unsigned lacquer comb.

L55

A gold lacquer comb decorated in hiramakie with a landscape of temples, figures, and bridges.

Japan, late 19th century
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Michael Dean 1981
Dimensions: 8.2cm long x 3.4cm.

Hounsai lacquer comb.

L56

A gold lacquer comb decorated in hiramakie with a fan.

Japan, late 19th century
Signed: Hounsai with kakihan
Provenance: Michael Dean 1981
Dimensions: 9.6cm long x 3.5cm.

The artist, who apparently specialised in combs, is recorded in E.A.Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists. Page 82 lists four other combs in the Hopp museum in Budapest.

Komin lacquer comb.

L57

A gold lacquer comb decorated in hiramakie with cranes flying over waves.

Japan, late 19th century
Signed: Komin
Provenance: Michael Dean 1981
Dimensions: 8.6cm long x 4.5cm.

Unsigned lacquer comb.

L58

A gold lacquer comb decorated in hiramakie with a man in a boat with birds flying overhead.

Japan, late 19th century
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Michael Dean 1981
Dimensions: 10.6cm long x 4cm.

Gold hiramakie lacquer on ivory.

M2 / L59

A fine 23 section ivory fan decorated in hiramakie, and various shades of gold lacquer, with a scene of a pair of birds perched on a prunus tree. On the reverse a pair of quail within a scene of several plants, flowers, and butterflies.

Japanese, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Sidney Moss 1978.
Dimensions: 27.5cm long when closed.

Gold lacquer inlaid with shell, stained ivory dark horn and coral. Aikuchi (dagger).

M6 / L60

A small but very fine aikuchi (short sword) with metal fittings. The hilt and scabbard decorated on a gold lacquer ground with Shibayama inlay of a plumed bird amidst cherry blossom. Ducks on a pond are seen on the reverse.

Japanese, late 19th century.
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Douglas Wright.
Published: Item 368 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.
Dimensions: 36.8cm long x 4.2cm wide

Phoenix.

A Japanese embellished lacquer bottle with the original stopper.

B81 / L61

Lacquer, deep-red, embellished with mother-of-pearl, coral, malachite and horn and painted with gold and multicoloured lacquer to create the scene of children at play in a garden, with an elegant lady standing in front of a large screen, with a stork standing in water below; the reverse with two children making tea.

Japanese, early 20th Century
Stopper: Matching and original lacquer
Seal: Qianlong nian zhi
Provenance: C.John
George A. Cohen
Published: Item 367 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro', by George A. Cohen
Height: 9.2cm

At some point in the late 19th Century Japanese workshops began to expand their repertoire to include snuff bottles. This was due to the demand from Western collectors and this example is typical of the work produced.

Guri Lacquer Netsuke & Snuff Bottle

A carved Guri lacquer netsuke.

N57 / B82 / P74 / L62

A guri Lacquer and metal pendant, snuff bottle (also a netsuke) in the form of a double gourd. Carved over all with cloud scrolls to show the red and black layers.

Japanese, 1780-1820
Signed: Unsigned
Stopper: Metal
Provenance: Erik Hancock Collection
Redge Cooper 1976.

This piece forms a good link between all of our collections, as it could have been used as a netsuke, a snuff bottle, a pendant and it is also a lacquer work!