ZESHIN: A LARGE FOUR-CASE LAQUER INRO WITH HORSES

Attributed to Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), signed Zeshin 是真
Japan, mid to late 19th century, late Edo period (1615-1868) to Meiji period (1868-1912)

The large inro of upright rectangular form and lenticular section, bearing a lustrous roiro ground and finely decorated in gold takamaki-e to depict stylized horses executed in the Rinpa tradition, one side showing a horse mid-stride turning its head back, while the reverse shows two standing horses facing each other, their bodies outlined in gold lacquer and the manes and tails lacquered in finely textured yamimaki (black on black lacquer). Signed in subori (scratched) characters to the underside ZESHIN. The interior sprinkled with sparse gold lacquer flakes and with gold fundame rims.

HEIGHT 10.2 cm, LENGTH 7.8 cm

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and typical light traces of use. Few minute nibbles to edges, particularly along the risers and to the cord holes.

Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891) was a Japanese painter, lacquer artist, and printmaker of the late Edo period to early Meiji era. Nominated as one of the first Teishitsu Gigeiin (Imperial Court Artist) in Meiji 23 (1890), Shibata Zeshin excelled in several art forms, including painting, lacquer-making, print design, and calligraphy. He had an outstanding studio with talented students specializing in lacquer, paintings and prints. He has been called ‘Japan's greatest lacquerer.’ His work, unlike the oils being used by so many of his contemporaries, never needed re-touching and never faded. He was a master of emulating oil or ink painting with lacquer and combined groundbreaking techniques with traditional subjects. His studio was situated on the bank of a river, providing him with ample opportunity to observe nature, and the creatures that inhabited the natural world. Like many painters of the 19th century, he was eclectic in his sources and would have been exposed to traditional styles. However, Zeshin's skill level was such that he could fluidly mix techniques, ideas, and stylistic options, thus painting part of a composition in one manner and including elements of another to add variety and dynamics unheard of at the time.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related four-case inro with an identical design, by Shiomi Masanari, illustrated in Gabor Wilhelm et al. (eds.), Sleeping Beauties. Sagemono and Netsuke, 2004, pp. 14-15, no. 11.

Museum comparison:
Compare a related single-case inro with horse design, by Shibata Zeshin, Japan, Edo to Meiji period, dated mid to late 19th century, 7.3 cm high, in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, accession number 11.10061. Compare a related single-case inro with design of a horse and autumn grasses, by Shibata Zeshin, Japan, Edo to Meiji period, dated mid to late 19th century, 5.7 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 29.100.830.