KODO OTOMARU (LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE): AN EXCEPTIONAL CARVED LACQUER BOX AND COVER

拍品描述

KODO OTOMARU (LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE): AN EXCEPTIONAL CARVED LACQUER BOX AND COVER By Kodo Otomaru (1898-1997), unsigned Japan, second half of the 20th century, Showa period (1926-1989) Of square form with softly rounded edges, the box and fitted overhanging cover (kabusebuta) bearing a lustrous roiro ground and carved through multiple layers of purple and crackled pink lacquer. The cover is decorated with a refined composition of leafy flowers, their delicate blossoms highlighted with shimmering aogai (mother-of-pearl) inlays. The interior is finished in roiro lacquer and fitted with wooden compartments lined with padded silk in shades of purple, blue, beige, grey, and pink. SIZE 6 x 27 x 26.7 cm Kodo Otomaru (1898–1997), emerging from the Sanuki lacquer tradition of Kagawa Prefecture, was one of the most important lacquer artists of the 20th century. He studied under Ishii Keido and initially mastered traditional carved lacquer techniques before developing his own highly distinctive style, characterized by innovative colour combinations, refined surface textures, and a modern sensibility. His mature works expanded the expressive possibilities of carved lacquer beyond traditional red (tsuishu) and black (tsuikoku) lacquer through complex layered grounds and subtle chromatic effects. In recognition of his outstanding mastery of carved lacquer, he was designated a Holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) in 1955. His works remain highly sought after internationally, though still comparatively rare in European and American collections. The renewed appreciation of Otomaru’s artistry among international collectors was highlighted by the 2023 Sotheby’s sale Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, which presented several of his works from the legendary musician’s collection and introduced them to a wider global audience. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related carved lacquer box by the same artist, dated 1978, 14 x 23.9 x 17.9 cm, in the Agency of Cultural Affairs. Compare a closely related carved lacquer natsume by the same artist, c. 1959, in the National Crafts Museum, collection ID no. Lc0010. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related carved lacquer natsume by the same artist, also unsigned, dated to the 20th century, at Sotheby’s, Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, 11 September 2023, London, lot 1121 (sold for GBP 33,020 or approx. EUR 41,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Compare a closely related carved lacquer box and cover by the same artist, also unsigned, at Sotheby’s, Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, 11 September 2023, London, lot 1122 (sold for GBP 12,065 or approx. EUR 15,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

图片