Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Lacquer (4)

Small rectangular box and cover. The box is made of wood covered in a thin layer of clear lacquer on outside and inside. The top of the cover is decorated on the outside with the two circles (mon). One is filled with a gohei (ceremonial wand with paper streamers), the other with an open and closed umbrella in kiji makie technique (applying makie lacquer decoration to natural wood). The flat makie work is executed in gold, silver and colored lacquers and gold sprinkle.

Inside of the cover signed with black lacquer seal: Tairei; bottom of box impressed seal of the wood worker who made the box: ‘To’ inside a double gourd.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Outside of cover inscribed: Ko…, tabakohako (Small…, tobacco box). Signed inside of cover: A spring day in Showa 26 (1951), Tairei saku and red seal Tairei. Bottom inscribed, as well.

Japan, Showa era, 1951

H 1.25 x W 3.25 x D 2.75 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).

Small rectangular box and cover. The core of the box made of wood covered in brown textured lacquer on the outside and red lacquer on the inside. The top of the kiri-wood cover is decorated on the outside with the fruit of a hozuki (Chinese lantern plant) in kiji makie technique (applying makie lacquer decoration to natural wood). The fruit is bright red takamakie, while the husk of the fruit is done in gradating red and gold takamakie. The cover shows a thin crack that has been beautifully restored with three small dove-tails.

Inside of the cover signed in gold lacquer: Tairei.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Outside of cover inscribed: Hozuki, .. tabakohako (Lantern plant, small box in tobacco box). Signed inside of cover: Tairei saku and seal Tairei.

Japan, Showa era, 1950s

H 1.5 x W 3.8 x D 3.4 in.

Cover with crack (through fruit), traditionally restored with dove tails.

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).

Small box and cover made of very thinly cut kiri (Paulownia) wood, in the shape of a Daruma doll. The cover is decorated in gold, silver and red kiji makie technique (lacquer decoration applied to natural wood) with three tumbler dolls: rat, farmer girl, samurai boy.

Inside the surface is covered in plain black lacquer, the cover signed in makie gold lacquer: Tairei.

Japan, Showa era, 1950s

1.25 x 4.3 x 2.7 in.

Few 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).

Small box and cover. The base of the box made of kiri wood (Paulownia), the cover made of kiri and keyaki (Zelkova) wood, diagonally joined together. The outside of the cover is decorated with two black shijimi fresh-water clam shells in kiji makie technique (applying makie lacquer decoration to natural wood).

Inside of the cover signed with red lacquer seal: Tairei; bottom of box stamped seal of the wood worker who made the box: ‘To’ inside a double gourd.

Comes with the original wooden storage box. Outside of cover inscribed: Shijimi, kiri kobako (Clam shell, small box in Paulownia wood). Signed inside of cover: Tairei saku and seal Tairei.

Japan, Showa era, 1950s

H 1.25 x 3.3 x 2.75 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).