A lacquered box inlaid with pewter and mother-of-pearl by Ogata Korin

This wooden box is covered in black lacquer (roiro) with Takamakiye (relief lacquer) decoration in gold powder, and is adorned with pewter and mother-of-pearl inlays. The edges are reinforced with pewter. This is an exceptional work by Ogata Korin (1658-1716), the finest artist of his time. His works were widely copied from the 18th century onward, throughout the 19th century. Centuries of use have worn the lacquer, but despite numerous impacts, it has not chipped anywhere: a testament to its exceptional quality. The same is true of the inlays, none of which are missing. An old Japanese text specifies that the gold powders used by Ogata had irregular grains, some larger than others. In enlarged photographs of our suzuribako, one can see these rare, shimmering grains, which are absent on copies. It is unknown whether this subtle characteristic was intentional on the part of the artist or due to an empirical method of grinding the gold into powder. There is no signature, whereas copies are almost always signed. In 1996, a box with an identical design was sold by Christie's in London. The subject of the pair of rabbits before the moon is very popular in Japan because it refers to an ancient legend and symbolizes marital happiness. The exterior is austere, with the two rabbits in pewter and mother-of-pearl against a night background, contrasting with a richly gilded interior and a large gray full moon, details of which are in gold leaf. This is a work by Korin created at the height of his artistic powers around 1700. It is in exceptionally good condition, with no restoration, only minor wear and tear, all visible in the photographs. It is an exceptional piece worthy of inclusion in the finest collections of Japanese art.