Description:
A RARE KYODAI MIRROR STAND
Japan, Edo period, 19th century. The wood and lacquer vanity tansu decorated with dense gold and silver hiramaki-e designs of nature such as pine trees, wisteria, bamboo, minogame and cranes against a Nashiji background. Fitted with finely incised and gilt copper ornaments as handles and decorative embellishments.
HEIGHT 64 cm
WEIGHT 2.8 kilograms
Provenance: Old British private collection.
Condition: Absolutely original condition with some wear, a few minor dents here and there, and one tiny natural age crack, hardly visible to the naked eye. An absolute rarity in this fine state of preservation!
Inside one drawer is an old label reading ‘Daimio of Ashikagai Crest’. Besides repeated Paulownia Mon crests the mirror stand also shows family crests with birds. Sets like these were commissioned as bridal trousseaux for members of daimyo and other senior samurai families. Compare with another Kyodai mirror stand in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, Accession Number 2006.388.1.