Vietnamese Lacquer By Pham Chinh Trung

A four-case lacquered Japanese inro by Yutokusai (Gyokkei), a lacquer artist active from 1845-1900 (end of Edo to Meiji period). The slightly round inro features a very intricate design with three unfolded fans on the front and two on the back: each reveals a vignette landscape scenery, likely real places in Japan. Using a combination of hiramaki-e and slight takamaki-e, the artist deftly created the pictures with fine details, rendering the inro as a miniature artwork...

Lacquer Potpourri box and cover with ormolu mountings from 18th century Directoire Japan/ France.

An exhibition quality dry lacquered ikebana flower vase by Masayo Koiwa. This highly unusual organically shaped vase has a sculptural feel, it sensual curves are hand-carved and lacq...

A Japanese four-case lacquer inro by a member of Kajikawa family circa 19th century (late Edo to early Meiji period). It depicts a nocturnal scenery of a meandering stream surrounded by bush clovers, where a full moon is reflected on the water. It was masterfully decorated in gold and silver maki-e using a combination of techniques including takamakie, togidashi and kirigane as well as aogai (abalone shell) inlays. The stream was set between the slightly elevated banks, adding to this piece a already strong three-dimensional composition. The interior was decorated in gold nashiji. It was signed on the bottom "Kajikawa Zou" (made by Kajikawa and a pot seal centered with "Ei" in Kanji. In one of the compartment, there is a katakana mark, appears to be a name, possibly the owner. Kajikawa clan was one of the most famous lacquer artisanal family established in the 17th century. Many well known members over the generations produced lacquer art in a wide range of formats, but two third were signed only with the family name such as this one. It is therefore not possible to pinpoint the exact author of this piece. Provenance: This inro was purchased as lot 349 in Christie's New York sale Japanese...

Japanese Lacquer Rhino Sculpture by Someya Satoshi (1983-). A hand-molded lacquer sculpture that depicts a fantasy beast "Rhino". The artist uses century-old traditional techniques and symbols but with an innovative contemporary energy that borders mysticism, shamanism and surrealism. Found objects were equally treated as part of the meticulous designs as the elaborate Maki-e and shell inlays. According to the press of Honolulu Museum of Art: "Someya Satoshi has been described as “one of the most significant contemporary lacquer artists working in Japan today.” (Japan Times, 12 Dec. 2013) His work combines objects of daily use, such as bathing buckets, serving trays, and soup bowls, with a wide array of natural materials, including animal bones, horns and antlers, sand, stones, leaves and branches. In the process, he implements a range of traditional lacquer methods passed down from pre-modern eras, such as the kanshitsu or “dry lacquer” technique, the origins of which date to Japan’s Nara period (710–784). After creating his forms, he embellishes them with designs inspired by calligraphy, traditional Japanese textile patterns, and even contemporary manga or comic books. His work defies ordinary definitions of lacquer art and successfully challenges the perceived limits of this extremely difficult and, in some ways, most conservative of traditional Japanese art forms". His work was exhibited in US such as Honolulu Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Morikami Museum etc. For a complete resume of the artist, see the artist's page in Imura Art Gallery. Reference: For a very similar Bull Sculpture see Hard Bodies Contemporary Japanese Lacquer...

An exceptional, oblong lacquer 3-tiered storage box with cover, reminiscent of a bento box, by Hiroshi Hayashi (1967). Covered in shiny gold and black l...

“Flower and Flower” by Kobayashi Miyako is a radiant lacquer serving dish shaped like a blossoming flower. The vivid red palette and lively form immediately convey energy and joy. In...

This is an unusual pair of Late Ching Chinese cinnabar-toned coromandel lacquer small altar or side tables. The tops of the tables feature complementary incised and painted scenes from Chinese every day life. Both tables are in very good condition considering their 100+ years of use. It is unusual to find a pair of coromandel incised lacquer...

As beautiful as it is practical, this Japanese Meiji-period lacquered tray is distinguished by its exceptional craftsmanship. It exhibits a phenomenal artistry as the entire tray is ...

Burmese Lacquer box. Round Burmese Vintage Lacquer Box. Special lacquering technique to make the color and design on this lacquer piece. Unlike mos...