The Kura - Japanese Art Treasures

Robert Mangold has been working with Japanese antiques since 1995 with an emphasis on ceramics, Paintings, Armour and Buddhist furniture.

Guri Bunko Lacquer Box by Imperial Artist Suwa Sozan I


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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Lacquer: Pre 1920: Item # 1469441

Please refer to our stock # L015 when inquiring.
The Kura
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817-2 Kannonji Monzen-cho
Kamigyo-ku Kyoto 602-8385
tel.81-75-201-3497
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sold, thank you

A large storage box of deeply carved layered lacquer by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in a fine Kiri-wood storage box signed titled Guri Bunko and signed by his adopted daughter Suwa Sozan II. It is 43.5 x 36 x 16 cm (17 x 14 x 6 inches) and is in excellent condition signed with an inlayed seal of mother of pearl.
Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875. Over the next 25 years he would gravitate between Tokyo and Kanazawa, working at various kilns and research facilities. He again relocated, this time to Kyoto in 1900 to manage the Kinkozan Studio before establishing his own. His name became synonymous with celadon and refined porcelain and was one of only five potters to be named Teishitsu Gigei-in. The Teishitsu Gigei-in were members of the Imperial Art Academy, Perhaps in modern terms one might call them the predecessors to the Living National Treasures. However unlike the LNT, there were only five Pottery artists ever named Teishitsu Gigei-in, Ito Tozan, Suwa Sozan, Itaya Hazan, Miyagawa Kozan, and Seifu Yohei III. He was succeeded by his adopted daughter upon his death. He is held in the Kyoto National Museum among many others.