A Large Japanese Gold, Red and Black Lacquer Three-Case Inro

SIGNED SHOKASAI, EDO PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

銘「松花齋」
in the form of a suite of armor, displayed on an armor box， decorated in gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with details rendered in inlaid shell and e-nashiji, the helmet set with antler-shaped flanges and surmounted by a flori-form forecrest, the black and red lacquered mask above the breastplate decorated with a gilt highlighted mon, repeated on the helmet and the red-lacquered hand guards, the armour box embellished with further flower-head motifs; signed Shokasai on the bottom case, together with a small coral ojime and a carved wood mask-form netsuke.

Length 5 7/8 in., 15 cm.

Property from The Strong National Museum of Play, sold to benefit the Collections Fund

In overall good and attractive stable condition, free from structural defects and major lacquer loss. All inlays present and intact. The proper left crest of the helmet with a minor lateral age crack. The nickle-size portion of very soft musuem wax visible in published images has largely buffed out. Expected minor rubbing at gilding at the top of the crest and between cases, and to the borders of the inlays on the box. Please refer to condition photos.

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Annie Wu

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Asian Art

[email protected]312.447.3260

Ms. Wu joined the firm in 2014, after working as a specialist in the Asian Works of Art Department of an East Coast auction house. She researches, appraises, and sells Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and South East Asian works of art, including jades, bronzes, ceramics, paintings, armor, and furniture. Throughout her career, Ms. Wu has achieved record prices for several prominent estates and collections, including the Estate of Frank G. Mertes, Sr., Winona, Minnesota; the Chinese Painting Collection of Ms. Yuan Jiaying and Mr. Li Guoyuan, Chicago; the Estate of Hisazo Nagatani, Chicago, and the Asian Art Collection deaccessioned from the Strong Museum of Play, Rochester, New York.

Flora Zhang

Specialist, Asian Works of Art

[email protected]312.447.3290

Megan Sadler

Associate Specialist, Asian Works of Art

[email protected]312.600.6066

Strong Diversions: Property from a Lifetime of Play

A Large Japanese Gold, Red and Black Lacquer Three-Case Inro

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