A red, brown and black lacquered circular box and cover

Early 20th century, Japan.

Height: 30cm Width: 11cm

This circular box is lacquered  to simulate bamboo, the minutiae of detailing includes the linear grain, the protruding nodes, notches, indentations and markings. The decoration is characteristic of the Japanese taste for imitating other materials. The inside and base are in black.

Similar Examples

‘East Asian Lacquer’, the Florence and Herbert Irving collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Figure 143 illustrates a writing set by Zeshin, lacquered in imitation of bamboo with further details including snails, ants and insects.