by BANURA Shogo (1901-82)
Showa period, 1930s
Silver and coloured lacquers with shell inlay
39 x 27 x 7 cm
Signed. Signed and sealed tomobako
Two small frogs, kaeru, and a butterfly are seen amongst fallen leaves and plant sprigs on a wet woodland floor, in a work entitled saiyomon tebako, leaf design. The fauna seem small and insignificant within the vivid depiction of the flora that captures well the nature of autumnal leaf fall. The frog’s importance in Japanese artistic symbolism stems from its association with rice cultivation – the enduring heart of the Japanese agricultural system. Living in rice paddies, its presence denotes good fortune.
Banura, noted for a modernist painterly use of lacquer, was a major figure in 20th- century lacquer arts. Examples of his work are held in both the Kyoto and Tokyo museums of modern art. Born in Nanao in Ishikawa Prefecture, he studied maki-e lacquer in the lacquer centre of Wajima before moving to Kyoto in 1925. His work was first exhibited nationally at the 11th Teiten in Showa 5,1930, going on to win prizes at the 1936 Bunten Kansaten, and 1937 Paris International Exhibition. In 1961 he became director of the Nitten national art exhibition, and also formed the Kyoto Lacquer Ware Artist’s Association (Kyoto Shitsugeika Kyokai). In 1963, his work was awarded by Japan’s most prestigious artistic body - the Japan Art Academy Nihon Geijutsuin,.