ATTRIBUTED TO OGAKI SHOKUN (1865-1937)

A Lacquered-Wood Suzuribako (Box for Writing Utensils)
Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, 20th century
The exterior of the kabusebuta (overhanging lid) of plain, polished wood apart from the gold-lacquered edges sprinkled with hirame, the interior of the lid inset with a gold-lacquered panel embellished in sumi-e togidashi maki-e with a solitary scholar on a mule riding along a mountain path towards buildings partially hidden by a cluster of trees in the distance, the inside of the box fitted with a removable ita (baseboard) compartmentalised for holding the suzuri (ink-grinding stone) and the suiteki (water dropper), the suiteki in form of a flattened rectangular ewer decorated with a woven pattern inlaid in shell and Gyobu, matching the brightly embellished interior lacquered in gold hiramaki-e with highlighted details in Gyobu flakes and shining shell inlays, unsigned; with a tomobako storage box inscribed outside the lid Suzuribako ichimen (Writing box, one piece), signed inside the lid Ogaki Shokun saku with a round seal. 3cm x 25cm x 20cm (1 3/16in x 9 13/16in x 7 7/8in). (6).
Footnotes:
Ogaki Shokun (1865-1937) was a distinguished makie craftsman active from the Meiji era to the early Showa era. After studying under Takada Shigesaburo, he became independent around 1889. In 1925 he established the Ogaki workshop and was active as both a craftsman and a businessman. He made many works for the Imperial Household Agency. He worked on improving various lacquering techniques and contributed to adapting traditional Kaga maki-e to modern tastes.
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