Japanese Lacquer Maki-E Scroll Box Fubako by Kansonsai Edo Period

Description

A Japanese lacquered wood fubako (a box to store document or small scroll painting) circa late 18th century of Edo … more A Japanese lacquered wood fubako (a box to store document or small scroll painting) circa late 18th century of Edo period. The rectangular box features a deep lid with rounded corners and recessed mid-edge and a lower box with two bronze medallion rings and tasseled silk ties. The surface of the fubako was elaborately decorated with hiramaki-e and a low takamaki-e on a mottled Mura-nashiji background. The motifs on the lid depict branches of Japanese pine with finely rendered needles on the lower part; on the upper part, it showcases fruited persimmon branches. Two different shades of gold fundame were used to contrast the design and augmented by scattered gold kirigane to highlight some of the leaves. The design continues and cascades down to all sides of the lid as well as the walls of the box. The two bronze medallions appear original to the box and the silk ties show significant fading from the age. This Fine fubako is signed on the lower wall "Kanshosai" in Kanji with a kao mark. All the trims were finished in gold fundame and the interiors a dense nashiji in gold.
Kanshosai is the mark of the distinguished lacquer artist Lizuka Toyo I who also signed his work "Toyosai". He was active in the second half of the 18th century during Edo period, employed by Hachisuka Shigeyoshi (1738-1801), daimyo of Awa on Shikoku Island. Although most survived work bearing his marks are inros, he was also known to decorated trays and other larger objects. This fubako, based on its Fine quality, was quite likely by his hands. We can't rule out the possibility that it was made by his pupils such as Toju, Toshi and Toshu at a later age, although we haven't found known examples in literature with similar/identical signature (see page 312, the first signature of Lizuka Toyo in The Index of Inro Artists by E. A. Wrangham).
Examining the fubako, it is evident that it was carefully used and of its original condition without noticeable restoration. less