11th Sep, 2025 11:00
The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers Part 1
139
A FINE SUZURIBAKO (WRITING BOX) DEPICTING A HORAGAI, EDO PERIOD
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve
Sold for €7,150
including Buyer's Premium
Published:
1. Jean-Paul Desroches (ed.) et al, Two Americans in Paris: A Quest for Asian Art, Paris, 2016, p. 236, no. 372.
2. Pointe-à-Callière Museum, Two Americans in Paris. A Quest for Asian Art, Montréal, 2016, exhibition album, p. 60.
Exhibited:
1. Pointe-à-Callière Museum, From the Lands of Asia. The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection, Montréal, 17 November 2016-19 March 2017.
2. Kimbell Art Museum, From the Lands of Asia. The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection, Fort Worth, Texas, 4 March-19 August 2018.
Japan, 19th century. Of rectangular form with a flat overhanging cover, bearing a mottled ground, finely decorated to the cover in iro-e hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, as well as scattered gold sprinkles and kirigane, to depict a tasseled Horagai conch, its shell with naturally variegated stripes. The interior of the cover decorated with a mountainous landscape dotted with low, rolling hills, various creepers and maple leaves, an oi (monk’s backpack) to one side. The interior and base in nashiji with scattered leaves, fitted with a removable ita (baseboard), and housing the original implements: a silver waterdropper (suiteki), a paper-cutting knife (kogatana), an awl (kiri), and a fitted rectangular inkstone (suzuri). The rims of fundame.
Provenance: Ex-collection Charles Cartier-Bresson (1853-1921). The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012. Charles Cartier-Bresson was a textile industrialist and art collector specializing particularly in works from Japan. He is the great uncle of famous photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004).
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear including a few light surface scratches and light traces of use throughout.
Dimensions: Size 24.8 x 22.8 x 4.2 cm
Conch shells (horagai) have been used in Japan as instruments for Buddhist rituals since the 8th or 9th century. Besides the war drum and the gong, they were also used as battle horns (gunkai or jingai) to conduct troop movements. Since it was used in outdoor terrain, mesh, cord, and sometimes tassels in flamboyant colors were preferred. In each feudal clan there was one family assigned the duty of blowing the horn and this function was passed down from generation to generation.
The interior of the cover shows a path covered with ivy and bordered with maple against which a wicker case has been placed. The path refers to Chapter IX in the Tale of Ise, in which a solitary traveler crosses a pilgrim and gives him a poem destined for his wife who is far away. It is intended to incite inspiration for the person who will use the writing box.
Published:
1. Jean-Paul Desroches (ed.) et al, Two Americans in Paris: A Quest for Asian Art, Paris, 2016, p. 236, no. 372.
2. Pointe-à-Callière Museum, Two Americans in Paris. A Quest for Asian Art, Montréal, 2016, exhibition album, p. 60.
Exhibited:
1. Pointe-à-Callière Museum, From the Lands of Asia. The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection, Montréal, 17 November 2016-19 March 2017.
2. Kimbell Art Museum, From the Lands of Asia. The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection, Fort Worth, Texas, 4 March-19 August 2018.
Japan, 19th century. Of rectangular form with a flat overhanging cover, bearing a mottled ground, finely decorated to the cover in iro-e hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, as well as scattered gold sprinkles and kirigane, to depict a tasseled Horagai conch, its shell with naturally variegated stripes. The interior of the cover decorated with a mountainous landscape dotted with low, rolling hills, various creepers and maple leaves, an oi (monk’s backpack) to one side. The interior and base in nashiji with scattered leaves, fitted with a removable ita (baseboard), and housing the original implements: a silver waterdropper (suiteki), a paper-cutting knife (kogatana), an awl (kiri), and a fitted rectangular inkstone (suzuri). The rims of fundame.
Provenance: Ex-collection Charles Cartier-Bresson (1853-1921). The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012. Charles Cartier-Bresson was a textile industrialist and art collector specializing particularly in works from Japan. He is the great uncle of famous photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004).
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear including a few light surface scratches and light traces of use throughout.
Dimensions: Size 24.8 x 22.8 x 4.2 cm
Conch shells (horagai) have been used in Japan as instruments for Buddhist rituals since the 8th or 9th century. Besides the war drum and the gong, they were also used as battle horns (gunkai or jingai) to conduct troop movements. Since it was used in outdoor terrain, mesh, cord, and sometimes tassels in flamboyant colors were preferred. In each feudal clan there was one family assigned the duty of blowing the horn and this function was passed down from generation to generation.
The interior of the cover shows a path covered with ivy and bordered with maple against which a wicker case has been placed. The path refers to Chapter IX in the Tale of Ise, in which a solitary traveler crosses a pilgrim and gives him a poem destined for his wife who is far away. It is intended to incite inspiration for the person who will use the writing box.
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