Unsigned. Late Taisho/early Showa period, 1920s.
Gold makie on a black roiroground.
24.7 x 18.2 x 2.9 cm. Original storage box.
This is a so-called 'plate' suzuribako , simply but ingeniously designed to only have structural integrity through the inclusion of the water dropper and inkstone which engage with indents in the lid and thereby lock the two parts together. Its decorative design lies firmly in the Rinpa tradition. On the lid is the sombre depiction of hanging ivy leaves ( tsuta ) in black takamakie highlighted with sparse golden nashiji.
Opening the box, however, reveals a brilliantly decorative design of ivy leaves and seeds, in gold hiramakie . The application of the gold appears overloaded against the black background, thereby capturing the tarashiko-mi (puddled) effect typically found in Rinpa painting. The design of ivy, long praised in Japanese literature for its beauty, is reminiscent of printed works by the sixteenth century originator of the style Honami Koetsu (1558-1637). A simple silver water dropper and inkstone complete the whole, ensuring the structural stability of the closed box. Although unsigned, the design and lacquer style is strikingly similar to the contemporary work of Kamisaka Sekka and Kamisaka Yukichi.