MORIMITSU: A VERY RARE COCONUT SHELL THREE-CASE SAYA INRO WITH IMMORTALS
By Morimitsu, signed Morimitsu 盛光
Japan, 18th/19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 799.
Carved from coconut shell, a material more frequently encountered in Chinese art and rarely used in Japan, the outer sheath carved on each side with a diapered, shaped panel, one side showing an immortal holding a peach, a deer by his side, and striding on clouds, and the other with a Shoriken crossing the sea on his sword. The sheath has lines imitating individual cases, however does not open. The inner three-case inro carved in low relief with a continuous mountainous lake scene, the interior lacquered black with gold fundame edges. Signed underneath MORIMITSU. With a coral ojime and attractive wood manju netsuke featuring concentric rings.
HEIGHT 7.3 cm
Coondition: Very good condition, minor wear, and few fine natural age cracks.
Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond Bushell. Sold at Sotheby’s London in 1966, purchased by D. J. K. Wright. Ex-collection Edward A. ‘Ted’ Wrangham (1928-2009), collection no. 644 (old label inside the top case), who formed one of the most important collections of Japanese Art in modern times. His reference book ‘The Index of Inro Artists’ (1995) is considered one of the most important English-language studies on Japanese lacquer ever published.
Lot details
By Morimitsu, signed Morimitsu 盛光
Japan, 18th/19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 799.
Carved from coconut shell, a material more frequently encountered in Chinese art and rarely used in Japan, the outer sheath carved on each side with a diapered, shaped panel, one side showing an immortal holding a peach, a deer by his side, and striding on clouds, and the other with a Shoriken crossing the sea on his sword. The sheath has lines imitating individual cases, however does not open. The inner three-case inro carved in low relief with a continuous mountainous lake scene, the interior lacquered black with gold fundame edges. Signed underneath MORIMITSU. With a coral ojime and attractive wood manju netsuke featuring concentric rings.
HEIGHT 7.3 cm
Coondition: Very good condition, minor wear, and few fine natural age cracks.
Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond Bushell. Sold at Sotheby’s London in 1966, purchased by D. J. K. Wright. Ex-collection Edward A. ‘Ted’ Wrangham (1928-2009), collection no. 644 (old label inside the top case), who formed one of the most important collections of Japanese Art in modern times. His reference book ‘The Index of Inro Artists’ (1995) is considered one of the most important English-language studies on Japanese lacquer ever published.
Sale price
Time, Location
Auction House
By Morimitsu, signed Morimitsu 盛光
Japan, 18th/19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 799.
Carved from coconut shell, a material more frequently encountered in Chinese art and rarely used in Japan, the outer sheath carved on each side with a diapered, shaped panel, one side showing an immortal holding a peach, a deer by his side, and striding on clouds, and the other with a Shoriken crossing the sea on his sword. The sheath has lines imitating individual cases, however does not open. The inner three-case inro carved in low relief with a continuous mountainous lake scene, the interior lacquered black with gold fundame edges. Signed underneath MORIMITSU. With a coral ojime and attractive wood manju netsuke featuring concentric rings.
HEIGHT 7.3 cm
Coondition: Very good condition, minor wear, and few fine natural age cracks.
Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond Bushell. Sold at Sotheby’s London in 1966, purchased by D. J. K. Wright. Ex-collection Edward A. ‘Ted’ Wrangham (1928-2009), collection no. 644 (old label inside the top case), who formed one of the most important collections of Japanese Art in modern times. His reference book ‘The Index of Inro Artists’ (1995) is considered one of the most important English-language studies on Japanese lacquer ever published.
Lot details
By Morimitsu, signed Morimitsu 盛光
Japan, 18th/19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 799.
Carved from coconut shell, a material more frequently encountered in Chinese art and rarely used in Japan, the outer sheath carved on each side with a diapered, shaped panel, one side showing an immortal holding a peach, a deer by his side, and striding on clouds, and the other with a Shoriken crossing the sea on his sword. The sheath has lines imitating individual cases, however does not open. The inner three-case inro carved in low relief with a continuous mountainous lake scene, the interior lacquered black with gold fundame edges. Signed underneath MORIMITSU. With a coral ojime and attractive wood manju netsuke featuring concentric rings.
HEIGHT 7.3 cm
Coondition: Very good condition, minor wear, and few fine natural age cracks.
Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond Bushell. Sold at Sotheby’s London in 1966, purchased by D. J. K. Wright. Ex-collection Edward A. ‘Ted’ Wrangham (1928-2009), collection no. 644 (old label inside the top case), who formed one of the most important collections of Japanese Art in modern times. His reference book ‘The Index of Inro Artists’ (1995) is considered one of the most important English-language studies on Japanese lacquer ever published.
