Japanese Lacquer Chabako (Tea Box), 16th/17th c

Japanese Lacquer Chabako (Tea Box), Momoyama-Edo Period, Late 16th-Early 17th Century. Provenance: Ito Family, Japan; Sotheby's, London. The rectangular box with flush-fitting cover and canted top, decorated in red and gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e on a black ground with panels depicting karashishi, Hitomaro (Kakinomoto Hitomaro) seated beneath the tree, a pavilion beside willow and maple branches, the borders with scattered florets, the cover inlaid in silver foil with an inscription, copper ring fittings. 8 1/8" tall x 8 3/8" wide x 6 1/8" deep.
Literature: Hiraki Uichiro, Jidai Makie Kyu-shitsu Shu-sei, (Tokyo, 1939), vol.1, p. 35-36.
The lacquer researcher Yoshino Tomio (1885-1961) wrote on the fitted box in 1934, documenting that this rare object was handed down in the Ito family. He notes that the chabako [tea box] was designed after the classic style of the Song dynasty and its drawing style emphasises the characteristic of the Momoyama period. He suggests a stylistic similarity of the karashishi [Chinese lions] with Kano Eitoku's byobu [screen] depicting karashishi [Chinese lions]. Good condition with minor losses typical of age.