Showa period, 1936
Coloured lacquers, tsugaru-nuri
12 x 30 x 9 (h) cm 10.7 x 14.5 x 6.5 (h) cm (2 No.) Storage box with paper wrapper
A modular set of three boxes with tsugaru-nuri lacquer finish. Decorated with scrolling stylised designs of wild carnations, nadeshiko, set within borders of stylised butterflies, chocho, against a brown kawarinuri ground, the design motifs are auspicious. The butterfly traditionally denotes joy, while the delicacy and modest appearance of the wild carnation led to the term yamato nadeshiko often being used to describe the 18 embodiment of refined traditional Japanese culture in a woman. This may allude to its former owner.
The work, typically, is unsigned but the storage box and original paper wrapper record that in1936 the boxes were presented to a senior member of the Royal Family by the Mayor of Hirosaki, Ishigoka-san.
The production of tsugaru-nuri lacquer ware in Northern Honshu dates from the mid 17th century, under the patronage of the feudal lord of Tsugaru, now Aomori Prefecture.