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A VERY RARE AND SUPERB INLAID LACQUER BOX AND COVER DEPICTING LUNAR HARES A VERY RARE AND SUPERB INLAID LACQUER BOX AND COVER DEPICTING LUNAR HARES Japan, 19 th century Of rounded rectangular form, the kinji ground finely decorated in gold, silver, and copper takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and togidashi with kirigane as well as inlays of aogai (mother-of-pearl) to depict two hares amid leafy chrysanthemums, lilies, other flowers, and clovers as well as craggy rocks, the cover further with three silver-lacquered kana characters in cursive script (ashide) reading ‘Tsuki no yo’ (‘The moon at night’). The hares’ eyes are inlaid with coral and amber. The base and interior of nashiji, the interior with gold fundame edges, the rims of silver. SIZE 7 x 15.3 x 11.6 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: The Strong National Museum of Play, accession number 75.1892 (lacquered to the base). Old collector’s label ‘#16’ to base. Margaret Woodbury Strong (1897-1969) grew up in a prosperous family of collectors. Her interests ranged so widely that by 1960 she had amassed more than 27,000 collectible items and works of art. The vast majority of her collections related in some way to play and as her collection grew, Margaret planned a museum to house it. It eventually opened to the public in 1982 and grew dramatically over the following decades, expanding its collections, facilities, and resources, now spanning over 285,000 square feet. Today, the Strong National Museum of Play (known as just The Strong Museum or simply The Strong) is the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to the study of play. The inscription on the present box, coupled with the two hares, is an allusion to the lunar hare, a mythical figure who lives on the moon in Far Eastern folklore, based on pareidolia interpretations that identify the dark markings on the near side of the moon as a rabbit or hare. This popular motif originates in China, where the rabbit is often portrayed as a companion of the moon goddess Chang’e, constantly pounding the elixir of life for her. In the Japanese variation, the lunar hare is often seen pounding mochi.

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A VERY RARE AND SUPERB INLAID LACQUER BOX AND COVER DEPICTING LUNAR HARES A VERY RARE AND SUPERB INLAID LACQUER BOX AND COVER DEPICTING LUNAR HARES Japan, 19 th century Of rounded rectangular form, the kinji ground finely decorated in gold, silver, and copper takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and togidashi with kirigane as well as inlays of aogai (mother-of-pearl) to depict two hares amid leafy chrysanthemums, lilies, other flowers, and clovers as well as craggy rocks, the cover further with three silver-lacquered kana characters in cursive script (ashide) reading ‘Tsuki no yo’ (‘The moon at night’). The hares’ eyes are inlaid with coral and amber. The base and interior of nashiji, the interior with gold fundame edges, the rims of silver. SIZE 7 x 15.3 x 11.6 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: The Strong National Museum of Play, accession number 75.1892 (lacquered to the base). Old collector’s label ‘#16’ to base. Margaret Woodbury Strong (1897-1969) grew up in a prosperous family of collectors. Her interests ranged so widely that by 1960 she had amassed more than 27,000 collectible items and works of art. The vast majority of her collections related in some way to play and as her collection grew, Margaret planned a museum to house it. It eventually opened to the public in 1982 and grew dramatically over the following decades, expanding its collections, facilities, and resources, now spanning over 285,000 square feet. Today, the Strong National Museum of Play (known as just The Strong Museum or simply The Strong) is the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to the study of play. The inscription on the present box, coupled with the two hares, is an allusion to the lunar hare, a mythical figure who lives on the moon in Far Eastern folklore, based on pareidolia interpretations that identify the dark markings on the near side of the moon as a rabbit or hare. This popular motif originates in China, where the rabbit is often portrayed as a companion of the moon goddess Chang’e, constantly pounding the elixir of life for her. In the Japanese variation, the lunar hare is often seen pounding mochi.

Estimate 2 000 - 4 000 EUR
Starting price 2 000 EUR

* Not including buyer’s premium.
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For sale on Tuesday 03 Sep : 11:00 (CEST)
vienna, Austria
Galerie Zacke
+4315320452
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Ɏ A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF AN ONI HIDING IN A BOX DURING SETSUBUN Ɏ A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF AN ONI HIDING IN A BOX DURING SETSUBUN Unsigned Japan, 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Crammed into a large box, the oni peeking out a small hole with a panic-stricken expression as soybeans pelt his hindquarters. Very good himotoshi, generously excavated to the side and base. The ivory bearing a superb, yellowish patina. LENGTH 3.9 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and expected age cracks. Provenance: Zacke, Netsuke von Meistern, Ausstellung 1989, no. 35. From the collection of Dr. Ferdinand and Dr. Gudrun Thaler-Szulyovsky, acquired from the above, and thence by descent in the same family. The couple, who had both been practicing law, met in 1967 through their mutual passion for art. Together they built a substantial and diverse art collection over many decades. This motif is commonly seen carved from wood and should be considered exceedingly rare carved from ivory. The Setsubun festival is celebrated during the first day of spring and includes the rite of oni-yarai or mame-maki, where roasted beans are thrown at oni to rid the coming year of any demons and disease-bringing spirits. Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 23-B-0388). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.