Estimate

4.000 - 6.000

Session

8 May 2026

Description

Japan, Edo period, 17th/18th century

Of elongated rectangular form, with sliding cover and silk cord passed through lateral apertures

The red lacquer ground densely inlaid with small irregular fragments of aogai mother-of-pearl in the manner of the Somada school, contrasting with hiramaki-e gold decoration

The continuous decoration unfolding across all six sides in two registers: above, including the top, flocks of chidori in flight against a mother-of-pearl sky; below, including the base, stylised seigaiha waves rendered entirely in gold, punctuated by mother-of-pearl reflections and stylised boat sails emerging between the waves

The interior and inner sliding cover decorated in gold

Bearing collection labels numbered 146 (side) and 144 (base)



稀有青贝漆器烟草盒，传somada派作品，日本江户时代，十七/十八世纪。长方形，滑盖，红漆地密嵌青贝细片，配金平莳绘装饰，六面通景：上部千鸟群飞于螺钿天空，下部金彩青海波纹中点缀帆影，内壁施金。

4,5x7,7x1,5 cm

Additional Information

Note:

The Somada school (Somada-ryū), founded by Somada Kiyosuke in the late 17th century and active across several generations, was renowned for its distinctive technique of aogai inlay, employing small, irregular fragments of mother-of-pearl densely applied over lacquer grounds, frequently red or black. The density of the mosaic, the iridescence of the blue-green shell and its interplay with hiramaki-e gold decoration, as seen here, are hallmarks of this tradition.



Provenance:

Daage Collection, 11 June 1912, Lot 80

The Marquis Costa de Beauregard