Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 10

Japan, Pair of Hokai boxes in lacquered wood, Edo period, 1829

$9,216.46List Priceper set

About the Item

Japan, Pair of Hokai boxes in lacquered wood, Edo period, 1829 Japan, Rare Pair of Hokai boxes in lacquered wood, Edo period, dated Bunsei 12, 1829. Hokai boxes are traditionally used in Japan to hold and transport shells for the game of Kai-awase but are also used as picnic boxes. The shell game (kai-awase) dates back to the Heian period (9th-12th century) and involves putting together pairs of shells. The inside of the shells, traditionally clams, are painted or engraved with verses, and the challenge is to find the two parts that form a complete theme or poem. This game goes beyond simple entertainment to take on a deep symbolic meaning. In addition to stimulating the mind and memory, it is charged with spiritual and aesthetic connotations, inviting participants into meditative contemplation of harmony and duality in the universe. As a result, this type of box often constituted precious wedding gifts. These boxes are always arranged in pairs, in keeping with the nature of the game which consists of finding the corresponding halves of the shells. Each box is made of wood with horizontal grooves and a slightly domed lid. They are supported by four slightly flared legs, and decorated with brass fittings. They have their original ropes and their transport boxes. These hokai boxes feature rare trompe l'oeil decorations where superimposed sheets of paper reveal patterns of legendary characters emerging from their shadows, made in polychrome lacquer on a black background. Trompe l'oeil and the graphic use of shadow as decorative motifs, present in Japanese art from the Edo period, exerted a fascination on European artists at the end of the 19th century, particularly in the Japonisme movement. and new art. Figures such as Toulouse Lautrec, Henri Rivière and the Chat Noir shadow theater in Paris, or even Steinlen, were deeply marked by the Japanese aesthetic discovered through Japanese prints and other objects collected in the Parisian intellectual circles of the end of the 19th century. Shadow puppets, with their subtle play of light and darkness, nourished the imagination of these artists, thus contributing to the evolution of artistic forms in Europe at that time. Beyond their aesthetic and historical value, these Hokai boxes and their exceptional decor embody a fascinating bridge between cultures, testifying to the dynamic exchange of ideas and artistic influences between the East and the West during the 19th century. The dimensions of the Hokai boxes are 47.5 cm x 47.5 at the feet. Height 43cm. They have retained their original protective boxes. These storage boxes show some wear and defects. They bear the handwritten date of Bunsei 12 corresponding to 1829. Good general condition, small scratches from use and small cracks on the bottom. No structural defect, no restoration.

Dimensions:
Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)Width: 18.71 in (47.5 cm)Depth: 18.71 in (47.5 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Chinoiserie (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Lacquer,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
Japan
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1829
Condition:
Seller Location:
PARIS, FR
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU6491241694412

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Pair of Large Antique Japanese Hokai Lacquer Boxes

$4,000 / set

H 18 in Dm 16 in

Pair of Large Antique Japanese Hokai Lacquer Boxes

Located in Atlanta, GA

A pair of Japanese lacquered lidded Hokai boxes with chased brass hardware and original ropes. Hokai boxes are traditionally used in Japan as the containers ...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Pair of Large Antique Japanese Hokai Lacquer Boxes

$4,000 / set

H 18.5 in Dm 16 in

A Japanese Meiji Period Black Lacquer Hokai Lidded Box with Brass Mounts

Located in San Francisco, CA

this large ribbed and cylindrical Japanese shell-game box with domed lid decorated overall with Maki-e (gold lacquered) foliate wreaths and stylized flower heads and incised brass mounts; raised on four splayed supports. Hokai boxes...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

A Japanese Meiji Period Black Lacquer Hokai Lidded Box with Brass Mounts

$2,850

H 16.5 in Dm 15 in

Japanese Lacquer Hokai Box, 19th Century

Located in Pasadena, CA

This is a good example of a traditional Japanese Hokai shell storage box for the Kai-awase game. This box is well-detailed in chased brass appliques and makie. The box is in overall ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Lacquer Hokai Box, 19th Century

$1,550

H 16 in Dm 15 in

Japanese Lacquer Chest, Edo Period

Located in Greding, DE

Small rectangular Japanese chest with gold lacquer decoration in the form of leaf tendrils. The chest is decorated with cut-out and ornamentally engraved fittings on the corners and ...

Category

Antique 18th Century Japanese Edo Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Japanese Lacquer Chest, Edo Period

$23,370

H 15.75 in W 24.81 in D 16.54 in

Japanese Lacquer Maki-E Scroll Box Fubako by Kansonsai Edo Period

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Japanese lacquered wood fubako (a box to store document or small scroll painting) circa late 18th century of Edo period. The rectangular box features a deep lid with rounded corners and recessed mid-edge and a lower box with two bronze medallion rings and tasseled silk ties. The surface of the fubako was elaborately decorated with hiramaki-e and a low takamaki-e on a mottled Mura-nashiji background. The motifs on the lid depict branches of Japanese pine with finely rendered needles on the lower part; on the upper part, it showcases fruited persimmon branches. Two different shades of gold fundame were used to contrast the design and augmented by scattered gold kirigane to highlight some of the leaves. The design continues and cascades down to all sides of the lid as well as the walls of the box. The two bronze medallions appear original to the box and the silk ties show significant fading from the age. This Fine fubako is signed on the lower wall "Kanshosai" in Kanji with a kao mark. All the trims were finished in gold fundame and the interiors a dense nashiji in gold. Kanshosai is the mark of the distinguished lacquer artist Lizuka Toyo I who also signed his work "Toyosai". He was active in the second half of the 18th century during Edo period, employed by Hachisuka Shigeyoshi (1738-1801), daimyo of Awa on Shikoku Island. Although most survived work bearing his marks are inros, he was also known to decorated trays and other larger objects...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Lacquer Maki-E Scroll Box Fubako by Kansonsai Edo Period

$7,600

H 3.5 in W 12.75 in D 4.5 in

Japanese Edo Period Igarashi School Long Lacquer Box, Tanzaku-Bako

Located in Austin, TX

A stunning Japanese Edo period lacquer tanzakubako, box for poem cards, late 18th-early 19th century, Edo Period, Japan. Attributed to the Igarashi School, this box is masterfully ...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Lacquer

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer

Japanese Edo Period Igarashi School Long Lacquer Box, Tanzaku-Bako

$12,500

H 3 in W 4.5 in D 19.5 in

Japanese Taishō Red Lacquered Hokai Box with Brass Accents and Original Rope

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Japanese Taisho period Hokai box from the early 20th century, with red lacquer, ornate brass accents and original rope. This vibrant Japanese Taisho period...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Japanese Taishō Red Lacquered Hokai Box with Brass Accents and Original Rope

$1,500

H 16 in Dm 14.5 in

A Japanese Edo Period Lacquer Kogo (Incense) Box, late 17/early 18th Century

Located in Spencertown, NY

Early Japanese Lacquer Incense Box (Kogo) Late 17thc. Of rectangular form with soft corners, decorated with a diaper pattern in gold lacquer on a brownish black ground, with pewter r...

Category

Antique 17th Century Japanese Edo Decorative Boxes

Materials

Pewter

A Japanese Edo Period Lacquer Kogo (Incense) Box, late 17/early 18th Century

$3,500

H 2.5 in W 3.5 in D 3 in

Japanese Lacquer Incense Box, Kogo, Momoyama or Edo Period, 16th/17th Century

Located in Austin, TX

A wonderful Japanese lacquer incense box, kogo, with a design of plovers in flight, late Momoyama or early Edo Period, circa 1600, Japan. The small box, called a kogo, was used to s...

Category

Antique Early 17th Century Japanese Edo Lacquer

Materials

Gold, Pewter

Japanese Lacquer Incense Box, Kogo, Momoyama or Edo Period, 16th/17th Century

$6,000

H 2.75 in W 3.75 in D 3.75 in

More From This Seller

View All

Large Japanese Cloisonné Box and Cover, Japan, Meiji Period, 19th Century

Located in PARIS, FR

A rare Japanese bark tree large cloisonné box on metal from the Meiji period. Usually bark tree cloisonné was on porcelain (totai Shippo) A very attracti...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Metalwork

Materials

Metal

Large Japanese Cloisonné Box and Cover, Japan, Meiji Period, 19th Century

$2,516 Sale Price

25% Off

Box signed Katsutoshi Koku, Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Located in PARIS, FR

Box signed Katsutoshi Koku, Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Rectangular silver box bearing the Japanese junjin hallmark, signifying pure silver, made during the Meiji period (1868-1...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver

Box signed Katsutoshi Koku, Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

$2,277

Chinese Cinabar Lacquer Hand Carved Box, China, Qing Dynasty 19th c.

Located in PARIS, FR

A fine antique Chinese red cinnabar lacquer lidded round box carved with a scene with a man working and a mother holding a child within a rocky landscape with trees. The "dragon's...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Decorative Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

Chinese Cinabar Lacquer Hand Carved Box, China, Qing Dynasty 19th c.

$2,397 Sale Price

20% Off

Scroll paintingJapan, Woman jumping from the balcony of Kiyomizu-dera Edo period

Located in PARIS, FR

Japan, Woman jumping from the balcony of Kiyomizu-dera Edo period Japanese scroll painting – Woman jumping from the balcony of Kiyomizu-dera temple, Edo period Ink and pigments on pa...

Category

Antique 1790s Japanese Paintings

Materials

Paper

Scroll paintingJapan, Woman jumping from the balcony of Kiyomizu-dera Edo period

$4,194

Japan, A rare Japanese Kutani figure of Kannon on a Foo Lion, Meiji Period, 19th

Located in PARIS, FR

Rare Japanese Kutani Figure: Unveiling Tranquility and Spiritual Power from Meiji Period Japan Unveil a rare gem from Japan's historical Meiji ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Porcelain

Japan, A rare Japanese Kutani figure of Kannon on a Foo Lion, Meiji Period, 19th

$1,917

Rare Japanese painting, Skeletons Studying, Shaku Kaiyin, Japan Meiji Period

Located in PARIS, FR

Skeletons Studying, Shaku Kaiyin, Japan Meiji Period This ink-on-paper painting, mounted as a scroll with colored paper borders, is titled Skeletons Studying. It portrays a circle of...

Category