1 of 2

Pair of Japanese Lacquer and Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Knife Urns, circa 1800-1815

$56,954.74List Priceper set

About the Item

A rare pair of Kyoto-Nagasaki style lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlaid knife urns Edo period, early 19th century Measures: Height 71 x diameter 30 cm ?Formed as urns with vertically lifting covers and elongated finials, revealing fitted green velvet lined interiors for knives, decorated overall with birds, flowering stems, faux-fluting and oval panels with landscapes. The square plinth is raised on four bracket feet. Inside the lifting cover of one of the urns are Japanese characters, supposedly indications of some code by the craftsman. A closely related knife urn, now in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem (inv. E 73115), was acquired in Nagasaki by Captain Samuel Gardner Derby of the Margareth of Salem in 1801. Captain Gardner Derby traded in Nagasaki under charter from the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie), the Dutch East India Company. Between 1797 and 1814 Holland was occupied by the French and from 1811 until 1816 Java by the English. During these periods practically no Dutch shipping was possible between Holland and Batavia (Jakarta) or between Batavia (Jakarta) and Nagasaki. To maintain a minimum amount of shipping between Batavia (Jakarta) and Nagasaki, between 1797 and 1807, the VOC chartered mainly American ships. American captains and officers ordered and bought mainly lacquered furniture in an American-English style, completely different from what the Dutch up till then had ordered. The present knife urns were possibly also ordered and acquired by Captain Gardner Derby during his stay in Deshima/Nagasaki in 1801. Another similarly neoclassical shaped knife urn in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum Oxford (inv. 1996.17) appears to be signed by woodworker Kiyotomo koreo tsukuru (Kiyomoto made this). The same name, together with an address in the Sanjo-Teramachi District of Kyoto, has been found inside a fragmentary urn in a private collection. This is an indication that European-style furniture was not only lacquered in Japan but made there as well. This undoubtedly is not only true for knife-urns, but all European- style furniture lacquered in Japan after circa 1800 was made by Japanese furniture makers, after European models or drawings.

Dimensions:
Height: 27.96 in (71 cm)Diameter: 11.82 in (30 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Anglo-Japanese (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Brass,Lacquer,Mother-of-Pearl,Wood
Place of Origin:
Japan
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1800-1815
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Amsterdam, NL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU5458226435782

Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Knife Boxes

Materials

Wood

Rare pair of Japanese Nagasaki Export Lacquered Wood Knife Boxes

$3,950 / set

H 13.5 in W 8.75 in D 7.5 in

Victorian Gold and Mother of Pearl Handled Butter Knife

By George Unite Sons

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English 9-carat yellow gold and mother of pearl handled butter knife, boxed, an addition to our diverse flatware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian 9-karat gold butter knife has a sabre style knife blade, with a broad incurved shaped form. The anterior face of the concave curved blade is ornamented with a segmented panel of impressive bright cut engraved foliate ornamentation, all on a matte background. The reverse surface of the blade is plain, apart from the feature hallmarks. This antique knife retains the original, fine and impressive carved mother of pearl handle...

Category

Antique 1890s English Victorian Knife Boxes

Materials

Gold

Victorian Gold and Mother of Pearl Handled Butter Knife

$3,074

H 7.3 in W 1.1 in D 0.6 in

19th Century Pair of Knife Boxes With Mother of Pearl

Located in Charlottesville, VA

A most unusual pair of knife boxes. Beautiful decoration.

Category

Antique 19th Century British Knife Boxes

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Paint

19th Century Pair of Knife Boxes With Mother of Pearl

$2,800 / set

H 14 in W 9 in D 13 in

1894 Thompson Jewelers Mother of Pearl Fruit Knife

Located in Coeur d Alene, ID

Sterling fruit knife with mother of pearl handle, etched back strap, marked from his Godfather 1894 with hallmarks. In original box marked "GWNAE THOMPSON, LTD JEWELERS." Period: circa 1890 Origin: England Size: Knife 3 1/2" extended 6" In England silver fruit knives...

Category

Antique 1890s English Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

1894 Thompson Jewelers Mother of Pearl Fruit Knife

$550

H 5 in W 1 in D 5 in

Pair of George 111 Inlaid Mahogany Knife Boxes

Located in Montreal, QC

This fine pair of Classic proportions have many marks of quality. The timber used on the sloped fronts has been carefully selected with figured grain conforming to the shape of the h...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century British George III Knife Boxes

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of George 111 Inlaid Mahogany Knife Boxes

$3,500 / set

H 15.25 in W 10 in D 12.25 in

Lady s folding fruit knife silver blade mother of pearl handle

Located in Milan, IT

Antique folding lady's fruit knife with mother-of-pearl handle and blade silver with marks traceable to John Yeomans Cowlishaw dated around 1865. John Yeomans Cowlishaw was born in...

Category

Antique 1860s Knife Boxes

Materials

Silver

Lady s folding fruit knife silver blade mother of pearl handle

$332

H 2 in W 4.9 in D 1.2 in

Pair of Antique English Edwardian Cutlery Urns or Knife Boxes

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Impressive pair of antique English Edwardian lidded cutlery urns crafted in mahogany in classic form and paint decorated with theatrical medallion portraits and floral garland.

Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Knife Boxes

Materials

Mahogany, Paint

Pair of Antique English Edwardian Cutlery Urns or Knife Boxes

$10,750 / set

H 25.5 in Dm 10 in

Pair Antique English Mahogany Knife Fork Cutlery Urns / Boxes, Circa 1910-1920

Located in New Orleans, LA

Pair antique English mahogany knife and fork cutlery urns / boxes, Circa 1910-1920. Exceptional size.

Category

Early 20th Century Urns

Materials

Mahogany

Pair Antique English Mahogany Knife Fork Cutlery Urns / Boxes, Circa 1910-1920

$6,900 / set

H 26 in Dm 10 in

German Stainless Steel Knife Fork Carving Set Mother of Pearl Handles, Set of 3

Located in New York, NY

A fine stainless steel German carving set with mother of pearl handles, from Carl Wolfertz & Sohne, circa 20th century, Solingen, Germany. Set includes carving knife, fork, and sharpening steel...

Category

20th Century German Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

German Stainless Steel Knife Fork Carving Set Mother of Pearl Handles, Set of 3

$425 / set

H 0.75 in W 11.63 in D 1.5 in

Early 19th Century George III Pair of Mahogany Knife Urns

Located in Dublin 8, IE

Early 19th Century George III pair of mahogany knife urns. Of square form with carved blind fretwork design. The domed and finialled tops lift to reveal fitt...

Category