Description:
AN IMPORTANT LACQUER AND SHIBAYAMA PLATE, MEIJI
Japan, Meiji period, ca. 1880. Portrait of a Samurai holding a sword, a literati holding a scroll and a dignitary holding a scepter. Finely inlaid in ivory, mother-of-pearl and lacquered wood on a gold-fundame ground. The eyes inlaid in dark horn. The border finely decorated with gold hiramaki-e with some nashiji and kirikane portraying various floral motifs. The backside covered in dense nashiji. The ivory carving with some incredibly fine detail, well adding to the character of the portrayed.
DIAMETER 40.5 cm
WEIGHT 976 grams
Provenance: From a British noble estate, where it has been since the early 1900s (by repute).
Condition: Fantastic condition with only minor wear. Absolutely zero losses to the shibayama inlays, which is extremely rare. One short microscopic hairline. Fine natural patina to the ivory.