Akatsuka Jitoku (1871-1936)An inlaid black-lacquer box and coverMeiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, early 20th centuryOf rectangular form with rounded corners tapering to the base, decorated with a continuous design of prunus in the manner of Ogata Korin, inlaid in mother-of-pearl with gold lacquer highlights and simulated pewter against a roiro-nuri ground, the interior nashiji, signed on the underside of the cover in gold lacquer Jitoku tsukuru (Made by Jitoku), the base nashiji, silver rimsWith a wood tomobako storage box bearing the label of Hayashi Kuhei, a leading Tokyo dealer and craft entrepreneur 5 1/2 x 14 1/4 x 2 3/8in (13.9 x 10.7 x 6cm)注脚ProvenancePreviously sold, these Rooms, March 19, 2013, lot 2305In common with many outstanding lacquerers and other craft specialists of his time, Akatsuka Jitoku's education was broad-based. He started studying with the painter Kano Hisanobu—his first teacher—in 1885, a year before he entered his father's atelier and embarked on the arduous process of acquiring the vast range of skills required of an accomplished maki-e artist. Akatsuka's superb, uncompromising lacquer technique and lively, flowing decorative style won him many commissions. The present lot, an unusual example of his work in the Rinpa style pioneered by the painter and lacquerer Ogata Korin (1658-1716), is likely to date from the earlier part of his career.