Saratani Tomizo (1949-) Natsu no kioku (Summer Memories)

Saratani Tomizo (1949-) Natsu no kioku (Summer Memories)
Heisei era (1989-2019), September 2017
A large polished section of branched umimatsu ('sea pine'), encrusted with a confronted Miyama stag beetle (Lucanus maculifemoratus) and standard stag beetle executed in high-relief polished black rittai sabiage lacquer, and two other beetles and numerous ants; vine leaves in black rittai sabiage lacquer and gold lacquer, embellished with shell and other materials, signed with incised characters near the base Tomizo; fixed to a stand of black-lacquered antique paulownia wood with prominent year-rings; with two wood tomobako storage boxes, one inscribed outside Natsu no kioku (Summer Memories), signed and sealed inside Tomizo, the other inscribed outside Natsu no kioku sutando (Summer Memories, Stand), signed and sealed inside Tomizo. 31cm x 55cm x 45cm (12¼in x 19 5/8in x 13¾in) overall with stand. (4).