Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
A stunning early Ryukyu Kingdom red lacquer chest with gold paintings
A stunning early Ryukyu Kingdom red lacquer chest with gold paintings-
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 3
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 4
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 5
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 6
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 7
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 8
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 9
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 10
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 11
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 12
A stunning early Ryukyu Kingdom red lacquer chest with gold paintings-
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 14
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 15
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 16
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 17
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 18
A stunning early Ryukyu Kingdom red lacquer chest with gold paintings-DSC01867
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 20
A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box - Image 21

A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box

SOLD

A rare 17th or early 18th century Ryukyu Kingdom cinnabar red lacquer and gilt cosmetics box

Category Tags , , ,

Description

SOLD

​This is a spectacular example of Ryukyu Lacquer and can grace the displays of any museum. ​

This box is made of a thin wooden core, perhaps cedar wood which is then covered in a course fabric and coated in a base lacquer consisting of a mixture of tung oil,  Komyotan (red lead 光明丹), pig’s blood and kucha (クチャ “kucha” means means “mud” in the Ryukyu dialect and is a fine clay which is rich in calcium and minerals). Another outer layer of vermillion (cinnabar) lacquer is applied overtop before being decorated in gold (Haku e 箔絵).

 

A very similar box held in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum:

Ryukyu Lacquer box in the Tokyo National Museum

This was also published by Harry M. Garner in the book Ryukyu Lacquer (1972)

Ryukyu Lacquer by Harry M. Garner
Ryukyu Lacquer by Harry M. Garner

The decoration on this box is very similar to a plate in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum:  Footed Tray with Figures in a Landscape and Symbols of Seven Immortals – Ryukyu Islands, about 1700-1800

 

Period: Ryukyu Kingdom (1429 to 1879)
Condition: General condition is quite good and this piece has been extremely well preserved.  Small scratches as expected with age.
Provenance: Japanese private collection.
Dimensions (cm): Length 34  x Width 22 x Height 22 (box is 38 x 27 x 28)

 

 

To learn more about the Ryukyu Islands and Ryukuan lacquerware you can read here: RYUKYU LACQUERWARE FROM OKINAWA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE HISTORY OF THE RYUKYU ISLANDS & CHINA

 

 

This video from the Urasoe Art Museum (浦添市美術館) in Okinawa offers a good introduction to the lacquer arts of the Ryukyu kingdom. Discussion of lacquer starts around the 2 minute mark.

Share

Facebook
Twitter
Email
Print
Pinterest