Weiner Mihályné szerk.: Az Iparművészeti Múzeum Évkönyvei 9. (Budapest, 1966)

HOPP FERENC MÚZEUM — MUSÉE FERENC HOPP - Horváth, Tibor: Two Japanese Lacquer Boxes of the Early 18th Century

As a whole with its details, it is a masterpiece, and, on account of its new decorative character, an outstanding work of Japanese art. The oeuvre catalogue of Köetsu is difficult to compile and, in most cases, it is still under discussion. In literature the following works are generally attributed to him : 2. A woodman carrying faggots on his back. Inkstone box inlaid with lead and nacre. Hakone and Atami Art Museums, Selected Catalogue, 1961, figs. 133—5. Also in Tomio Yoshino's, Japanese Lacquer Ware, Tokyo, 1959. Tourist Library, vol. 25, fig. 63. 3. Two cranes picking about on a rice field, suzuribako, collection of Toda Yashichi ( Yokogawa Kiichirö, Köetsu, Tökyö, Atelier-sha, 1938. p. 42). 4. Chidori and snake nets, suzuribako, collection of Fukuda Asajirö (Yokogawa, op. cit. p. 43). 5. Boat among reeds, suzuribako, National Museum, Tökyö (Tazawa Yutaka-öoka Minoru, Zusetsu Nihon Bijutsu-shi, Iwana mi Shoten, Tökyö, 1958, pl. 290). 6. Nö-bookcase, earlier Iwasaki, now Seikadö collection (Yokogawa, op. cit. p. 44). Yoshino who has also reproduced the piece (op. cit. fig. 72), does not ascribe it to Köetsu. * The somewhat protruding, large mother-of-pearl inlay with unpolished surface possibly originated in Korea, as this is also mentioned by Yoshino among the points of new development in the lacquer art of the Momoyama period. One of the most interesting lacquer in our Japanese collection is a wickerwork box with rounded-off corners (probably for letter-paper), the cover of which is decorated on the outside by creeping vines with two pads and many leaves, in silver, mother-of-pearl inlays and unpolished lacquering. The rushmat is of a reddish-brown colour (fig. 1). Inside we see an unfolded fan, autumnal grasses and the moon, inlaid with lead and worked with unpolished gold lacquer on the inner surface of the cover and of the box (fig. 2). The edge of the box is black lacquer, with painted decoration. Inventory number: 2455, size 21,4X17,1X2,4 cm. From the collection of the founder of our Museum, Ferenc Hopp who paid for it 136.-Kronen. Partly lacquered wicker-work or bamboo goods must have been in demand in the 17th century and at the beginning of the 18th, at least this conclusion may be drawn from the published pieces. (Up to the latest times there are pieces where wicker-or bamboo-work is coverd with a lacquer sheet thin enough to show clearly the matting underneath. In case of cups or, still more, of unceon boxes, this technique was used with preference not only in Japan, but in Southern China as well. Some examples of lacquer boxes with matting as primary material: 1. Pine-tree with two phoenix, stationary box (Sekai Bijutsu zenshu, vol. 9, pi. 93. Kadogawa-shutsu, Tökyö, 1963. 2. Box with deep cover, possibly used for the incense ceremony. Early 18th century. Collection of U. A. Casai (U. A. Casal, Japanese Art Lacquers, Monumenta Nipponica Monographs, nr. 18. Sophia Universitv, Tokyo, 1961. fig. 24).