Small kiri wood box with clam shell lacquer décor, Takai Tairei, Japan
Directory: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Lacquer: Pre 1960: Item # 1487177
Please refer to our stock # 11098 when inquiring.
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).
