TWO JAPANESE LACQUERED KISERUZUTSU (PIPE CASE)

TWO JAPANESE LACQUERED KISERUZUTSU (PIPE CASE)

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

Both pipe cases of muso-zutsu form, the first made of woven rattan and decorated with Hotei carrying his large bundle on a stick, the jovial God of Good Fortune depicted in gold and silver takamaki-e and nashiji and his body in seido-nuri lacquer, the reddish-brown colour imitating copper, a two-character seal mark to the back; the other in wood and stag antler, decorated with Daruma under lines of calligraphy, the Father of Zen Buddhism wearing his typical red robes, signed above the figure, the rim with a stag antler ring carved with key fret and scrolls, 20cm and 21.1cm. (4)

Provenance: an English private collection, Somerset.