A lacquered-gourd suzuribako (box for writing utensils)


By Fukushima Taisai, Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryDecorated in gold, roiro, silver and coloured takamaki-e with entwined, trailing leaves and flowers of yugao (white-flowered gourd vine), containing an inkstone, two fude (brushes), a kogatana (paper-cutting knife) and a kiri (auger) within matching black-lacquer cases decorated in gold hiramaki-e with karakusa ('Chinese grasses'), the suiteki (water-dropper) in the form of a gourd, signed on the underside Taisai saku; with a wooden storage box. 12cm x 30xm x 20.5cm (4¾in x 12in x 81/8in). (9).
|The first character of the signature is identical to that used by Ikeda Taishin (1825-1903), the leading pupil of Shibata Zeshin, and it is therefore likely that Taishin was Taisai's master. For further deails of the artist, please see E. A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists, Alnwick, Northumberland, Harehope Publications, 1995, p.280.