Snake and cicadas inro - Ganshosai Shunzui
circa 1900
Two snakes entwine themselves around the body of an inro that is lacquered to imitate an old pine tree trunk, the space shared uneasily with a pair of plump cicadas. The larger serpent flickers it red tongue towards its prospective prey. The tree bark on one side is split with age, while the other shows the stump of a branch that has been cut away, revealing the pale wood inside.
Four cases, decorated in polychrome takamakie against a matsukawa-nuri ground.
Signed in raised gold lacquer: Ganshosai with red lacquer kao.
Height: 9.7cm
Matsukawa-nuri is built up to create texture using a technique similar to that of guri lacquer.
Provenance:
Shep Brozman collection
Roger L. Weston collection
