Early Spring, Hexagonal Tea Caddy with Decoration of Flowering Plants, Grasses and Pine Needles

Artists

Description

Of hexagonal form, this dry lacquer tea caddy is made entirely of lacquer applied over a cloth core, the surface imitating the color and texture of an old bronze vessel. The top and sides have minutely executed décor in takamakie high relief gold and brown lacquer representing two flowers and twelve pine needles. The inside and the bottom are decorated with nashiji gold flakes; the bottom bears the artist's signature reading Mushū and written in black lacquer. The tea caddy comes with its original kiri-wood tomobako box which is inscribed on the side: Kanshitsu chaki "Sōshun", or "Dry Lacquer Tea Caddy 'Early Spring'"; the box bears the artist's signature reading Mushū; a square, black intaglio seal reading Mu Shū immediately follows the signature.

Dimensions

tea caddy and cover: H. 6.2 x Diam. 8.4 cm (2 7/16 x 3 5/16 in.)

Provenance

Yamazaki Mushū (artist), Kyoto, Japan; through Erik Thomsen LLC Asian Art, New York; to Harvard Art Museum