UONO JISEI: A SUPERB LACQUER ‘RAT AND KAGAMI MOCHI’ KOBAKO (SMALL BOX), WITH PRESENTATION TRAY

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UONO JISEI: A SUPERB LACQUER ‘RAT AND KAGAMI MOCHI’ KOBAKO (SMALL BOX), WITH PRESENTATION TRAY By Uono Jisei (1883-after 1944), signed Jisei Japan, first half of the 20th century, Taisho (1912-1926) to Showa era (1926-1989) Exquisitely crafted, rectangular in form with gently concave sides, fitted with an overhanging cover. The exterior bearing a lustrous roiro ground densely sprinkled with gold powder, masterfully decorated in gold and silver takamaki-e, to depict a rat (nezumi) leaping over a kagami-mochi next to windblown ferns. The interior finished with a striking red-lacquered ground and signed JISEI. SIZE of the box 5 x 14.3 x 11.5 cm SIZE of the presentation tray 20.3 x 17.3 cm With the original wood storage box (tomobako), signed and sealed by the artist, and with a fine en-suite lacquered presentation tray. Uono Jisei, born in 1898 in Ishikawa Prefecture, was a distinguished Japanese lacquer artist who studied under Yamamoto Rihei V and Akatsuka Jitoku. After several formative journeys and residencies, he returned to his native Ishikawa during World War II, having established himself as a member of the Kyoto Lacquer Association. Archival records, including those in Nittenshi, document participation in major exhibitions such as Teiten (1927-1934), Hoshukuten (1940), Shinbunten (1941-1942), and the Special Wartime Exhibition (1944). As observed by Jan Dees, Uono maintained sustained engagement with maritime and lunar motifs, which recur throughout his career and are also evident in the present work. The 1944 exhibition represents the last recorded activity in his artistic trajectory. See Jan Dees, Breaking Out of Tradition: Japanese Lacquer 1890-1950, Museum für Lackkunst, Münster, 2020. Auction comparison: For another work by the artist see a panel lacquered with waves at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 5 November 2020, London, lot 174 (sold for GBP 6,937 or approx. EUR 10,400 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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