Early Japanese Wakasa-Nuri Lacquer Covered Box (item #461144)

Japanese and Chinese antiques and art from B & C

Early Japanese Wakasa-Nuri Lacquer Covered Box

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All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese:Lacquer: Pre 1900: item # 461144

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B & C Antiques
P. O. Box 291
Derby, CT 06418
203-929-7312

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$265

Early Japanese Wakasa-Nuri Lacquer Covered Box

This most unusual elongated covered box – probably used to hold brushes or pens -- displays the typical mottled orange, gold and black lacquer technique known as Wakasa-nuri. Meiji period, late 19th century. The center of the box’s cover has an unadorned red lacquer panel surrounded by the swirling wakasa-nuri finish along the edge and on all sides, and the exterior of the lower section is also decorated with wakasa-nuri lacquer. The base and the inside of the box are finished with rich black roiro-nuri lacquer, a technique wherein the highest quality black urushi lacquer is applied and polished in several layers. Wakasa was a provincial lacquer center which developed its own technique. In Wakasa-nuri, layers of different colored lacquers (predominantly brown, yellow-gold and orange) were applied to a ground deliberately rendered uneven by applying a paste, such as egg white or chalk, or by the addition of small pieces of egg shell, rice chaff, etc. Very thin gold or silver foil was then pressed so firmly into this “relief” that it fit the uneven surface like a skin. Then a coating of transparent lacquer was applied and, after it had hardened, everything was polished down to form a smooth surface. As a result, a mottled effect was created as the layers of colored lacquer under the gold foil reappeared in places to produce rather unusual patterns. The underlying gold leaf is responsible for the overall brown-gold nashiji-like effect. This unique box is a fine example of early wakasa nuri lacquer which would make a wonderful desk accessory. Condition is generally very good, with only a few small chips consistent with age and usage. There is a slight difference in the color of the wakasa-nuri on the lower section of the bottom of the box and the upper portion, which has hidden from the light by the overlapping cover. This is common in such old sleeved boxes. Dimensions: 9” x 3” x 1 ½” high.