Meiji era (1868–1912), circa 1870–1890Lacquer on paper with flakes of gold and silver, mounted on silver-backed card, depicting a partial view of a natural gourd, fitted with a red silk cord and a stopper; signed Zeshin 是真 with seal Reisai 令哉35cm × 5.7cm (13?in × 2?in)Arched wood storage box with gold maki-e inscription Tanzaku Zeshin hitsu たんざく 是真筆 (Tanzaku brushed by Zeshin) (2)Provenance:Sold in these Rooms, 5 November 2014, lot 9
注脚
For an example of an actual gourd fitted with a red silk cord, lacquered by Zeshin with a springtime dandelion design, see Nezu Bijutsukan 2012, cat. no. 30.