Japanese Table Cabinet with Cloisonne Panels Attributed to Namikawa Sosuke

Description

A Japanese wood and cloisonne cabinet circa Meiji period, late 19th-early 20th century. The small table top cabinet features
a … more A Japanese wood and cloisonne cabinet circa Meiji period, late 19th-early 20th century. The small table top cabinet features
a single drawer on top, four small doors with cloisonne panels on the second tier, a pair of larger cloisonne doors on the main level flanked by two skinny panels, and finally two drawers on the low level. It has a scroll carved base and sides as well four pagoda-shape cornices. The cloisonne panels were obviously the work of two different artist studios and were assembled on purpose to demonstrate a mixture of styles. The small top and the two skinny panels on the main level are of an earlier scrolling design that emphasize the wire work; The rest of the eight larger panels were done in a much later and painterly style attributed to Namikawa Sosuke (1847–1910), whose unique naturalistic style predominates with a zen ambience. The sides of the cabinet was nicely carved with the double dragon relief.
A similar but much larger cabinet in Khalili's Meiji collection attributed the work to the Honda and Namikawa Sosuke respectively. For reference of that cabinet, see Splendors of Meiji: Treasures of Imperial Japan. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection page 228, figure 218. less