Cabinet Known As Kôdansu - Japan - Meiji Period (1868–1910)
Cabinet known as Kôdansu
Japan
Meiji period (1868–1910)
Wood, lacquer, mother-of-pearl, ivory, shakudo, gold, silk
H.: 46.2; W: 42.3; W: 28.7 cm
(Minor damage and losses)
Red lacquered wooden cabinet (tsuishu), carved with a lively design featuring deities and legendary figures such as the goddess Benten, the three Chinese generals, and rakans—Buddhist saints—depicted in multi-lobed cartouches against a background of floral scrollwork, embellished with butterflies and other insects; enhanced with mother-of-pearl and ivory inlays.
Shakudo hardware engraved with gilded floral motifs.
Front featuring one drawer and two doors, revealing four drawers and three sliding or removable panels; all lacquered in black and decorated in hira and takamaki-e styles with gold and polychrome lacquer, and inlays of mother-of-pearl and elephant ivory depicting objects, flowers, birds, butterflies, and crabs at the water’s edge.
Protective silk cover, marked “Ozeki Tadajiro Yokohama Honmachi 4 Chome.”
The inscription on the cabinet’s protective cover clarifies its provenance. It refers to Ozeki Sadajiro, who, along with his father Ozeki Yahei, founded the Musashiya firm, which specialized in the trade of high-quality Japanese art objects, commissioned from artists and artisans. Active at the very end of the Edo period and throughout the Meiji era, the firm notably expanded its operations internationally.
This focus on exports became particularly evident after the opening in Yokohama in 1859 of a branch of the company, which appears to have been placed under the direction of Ozeki Sadajiro. The presence of its inscription on the cover thus suggests that the cabinet was marketed by Musashiya and was likely intended for the Western market from the outset.
It may therefore have been acquired by a prominent European dealer or collector in the second half of the 19th century, a period marked by a growing enthusiasm for Japanese arts, which gave rise to the cultural phenomenon known as Japonism. It is also possible that this cabinet was designed or selected to be displayed at one of the World’s Fairs held in France and throughout Europe beginning in the mid-19th century—events that played a major role in the dissemination and recognition of Japanese art in the West.
This piece is accompanied by a CIC certificate registered under No. FR2408300176-K, dated September 5, 2024.
Text and photos © FCP CORIDON
Japan
Meiji period (1868–1910)
Wood, lacquer, mother-of-pearl, ivory, shakudo, gold, silk
H.: 46.2; W: 42.3; W: 28.7 cm
(Minor damage and losses)
Red lacquered wooden cabinet (tsuishu), carved with a lively design featuring deities and legendary figures such as the goddess Benten, the three Chinese generals, and rakans—Buddhist saints—depicted in multi-lobed cartouches against a background of floral scrollwork, embellished with butterflies and other insects; enhanced with mother-of-pearl and ivory inlays.
Shakudo hardware engraved with gilded floral motifs.
Front featuring one drawer and two doors, revealing four drawers and three sliding or removable panels; all lacquered in black and decorated in hira and takamaki-e styles with gold and polychrome lacquer, and inlays of mother-of-pearl and elephant ivory depicting objects, flowers, birds, butterflies, and crabs at the water’s edge.
Protective silk cover, marked “Ozeki Tadajiro Yokohama Honmachi 4 Chome.”
The inscription on the cabinet’s protective cover clarifies its provenance. It refers to Ozeki Sadajiro, who, along with his father Ozeki Yahei, founded the Musashiya firm, which specialized in the trade of high-quality Japanese art objects, commissioned from artists and artisans. Active at the very end of the Edo period and throughout the Meiji era, the firm notably expanded its operations internationally.
This focus on exports became particularly evident after the opening in Yokohama in 1859 of a branch of the company, which appears to have been placed under the direction of Ozeki Sadajiro. The presence of its inscription on the cover thus suggests that the cabinet was marketed by Musashiya and was likely intended for the Western market from the outset.
It may therefore have been acquired by a prominent European dealer or collector in the second half of the 19th century, a period marked by a growing enthusiasm for Japanese arts, which gave rise to the cultural phenomenon known as Japonism. It is also possible that this cabinet was designed or selected to be displayed at one of the World’s Fairs held in France and throughout Europe beginning in the mid-19th century—events that played a major role in the dissemination and recognition of Japanese art in the West.
This piece is accompanied by a CIC certificate registered under No. FR2408300176-K, dated September 5, 2024.
Text and photos © FCP CORIDON
18 000 €
Period: 19th century
Style: Asian art
Condition: Excellent condition
Reference (ID): 1819431
Availability: In stock
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