A RARE JAPANESE WOOD AND LACQUER DISH FOR THE EUROPEAN MARKET EDO PERIOD

A RARE JAPANESE WOOD AND LACQUER DISH FOR THE EUROPEAN MARKET

EDO PERIOD, 17TH/18TH CENTURY

Decorated in gold maki-e lacquer on a black urushi ground with a central design of a butterfly fluttering above a stream, a rocky outcrop to the side and a large flowering spray of peony issuing from it, the border elegantly decorated with a band of cash, shippo, with stylised flowerheads in between, hanabishi, 30.4cm.

See O Impey & C Jörg, Japanese Export Lacquer 1580-1850, pp.46-47 n.41, for an illustrated set of lacquer cups and saucers with similar decoration described as an example of luxury items for private Dutch traders. Also, J Ayers, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen, pp.966-969 for similar dishes, and the Groninger Museum, access. n. 1987-447 for another.