Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Lacquer (1)

Small box and cover made of very thinly cut keyaki (Zelkova) wood, in oblong shape with rounded corners. The domed cover is decorated in black polished lacquer, black ishime lacquer, gold lacquer inlaid with small pieces of mother-of-pearl. An open folding fan wraps around the surface of the cover, continuing onto the sides, decorated with parting clouds, showing silhouettes of birds flying over waves.

Inside, the surface is covered in thin brown lacquer, allowing the wood grain to show. The cover is signed on the inside in makie gold lacquer: Tairei.

Japan, Showa era, 1950s

1.25 x 4.3 x 2.7 in.

Minimal traces of usage on the inside of the box, overall in excellent condition

From the collection of Ed and Julie Lewis, Chicago

Takai Tairei (1880-1971) was trained in the workshop of the Imperial Artist Ikeda Taishin. He lived in the Aoyama ward of Tokyo. In his young years he made inro and pipe cases in the Zeshin/Taishin style. Later on, he produced boxes and trays with lacquer decorations directly applied on the wooden objects (kiji makie), such as the one presented here. After World War II, Tairei made his living by manufacturing lacquered jewelry: obi pins, brooches and rings, while continuing making kiji makie objects. His brother-in-law was the famous lacquer artist Akatsuka Jitoku, who was married with his elder sister Takai Kei (1877-1946).