KAWABATA MIYOSHI (LATER KINSA V, 1915-1999)
A lacquer accessory box
Showa era (1926-1989), circa 1950-1963
The rectangular box with kabusebuta (overhanging cover) decorated in colored lacquer and inlaid shell with slightly sunken rectangular reserves with a continuous design of a flowering giant lily (hamamomen or hamayu, Crinum asiaticum) and seashells on a beach, the beige ground worked to resemble sand, the borders and interiors in mottled red lacquer, the interior black lacquer, signed on the underside Miyoshi saku (Made by Miyoshi)
With a lacquered-wood tomobako storage box inscribed on the cover Hama momen maki-e tebako (Accessory box with giant lily) and with a paper label Kawabata Kinsa 'Miyoshi saku' Osakashiten shuppin tebako (Accessory box for the Osaka City exhibition by Kawabata Kinsa, signed 'Made by Miyoshi')
10 1/2 x 14 1/4 x 10in (26.5 x 26.2 x 25.3cm)
Footnotes:
Born in Nara Prefecture, Kawabata Miyoshi became a pupil of Kawabata Kinsa IV in 1941 and was later adopted into the family, succeeded to the name Kinsa in 1963. As well as making pieces for exhibition, especially in the Osaka area, he undertook many commissions from tea-ceremony masters.