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A lacquer kodansu [small cabinet] — Edo period, 19th century

A lacquer kodansu [small cabinet]

Edo period, 19th century

This 19th-century lacquer kodansu is an exceptional example of Edo period craftsmanship, featuring elaborate gold, silver, and red decoration with aogai inlay. The small cabinet displays the 'Three Friends of Winter' motif on its exterior doors and showcases refined hammered silver fittings.

Medium
the rectangular chest with chamfered edges and a hinged door opening to reveal three drawers, all decorated in gold, silver, red and black hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, sparse nashiji, kimpun, gyobu nashiji, and inlaid in aogai, the exterior with irises along a meandering stream, continuing on all sides, the exterior of the doors decorated with bamboo, pine needles and plum blossom forming the Three Friends of Winter (shochikubai), the silver fittings hammered and engraved with scrolling foliage on a nanako ground
Spotted At
Auction House · Sotheby's

🔨 Auction Lot

Pursuit of an Ideal: Fine Japanese Works of Art

October 26, 2021

Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000

Lot 50

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About this work

A lacquer kodansu [small cabinet], Edo period, 19th century

This 19th-century lacquer kodansu is an exceptional example of Edo period craftsmanship, featuring elaborate gold, silver, and red decoration with aogai inlay. The small cabinet displays the 'Three Friends of Winter' motif on its exterior doors and showcases refined hammered silver fittings.

Medium
the rectangular chest with chamfered edges and a hinged door opening to reveal three drawers, all decorated in gold, silver, red and black hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, sparse nashiji, kimpun, gyobu nashiji, and inlaid in aogai, the exterior with irises along a meandering stream, continuing on all sides, the exterior of the doors decorated with bamboo, pine needles and plum blossom forming the Three Friends of Winter (shochikubai), the silver fittings hammered and engraved with scrolling foliage on a nanako ground
Seen at
Sotheby's, New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris

Related themes

Lacquer, Ornate, Iris, Japanese, Traditional, Decorative Arts, Edo Period, Multi-color, Gold And Silver, Floral