SHIBAYAMA YASUMASA: A MAGNIFICENT AND RARE SHIBAYAMA TRAY
By Shibayamasa Yasumasa, signed Yasumasa
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The decor consists of an assortment of Japanese collectibles as they would have been stored inside a curio or collector's box. We see three large tusba of various shapes, all inlaid with different designs, an inro with its matching tsuishu lacquer Ojime and a Netsuke, Eguchi no Kimi, finely carved of mother-of-pearl. All of these collectibles are not only inlaid themselves, but the whole assortment is surrounded by floral sprays amid their vines and leaves, flying cranes and sparrows, all made of further finely incised inlays. The octagonal tray stands on four feet, the underside is entirely covered in gold lacquer nashiji, and the upside bears an elegant silver frame.

Tsuishu lacquer cartouche to lower left with carved artist signature Shibayama Yasumasa. Extremely fine inlays of mother-of-pearl, tsuishu lacquer, horn, hardwood and shell, all above a gold lacquer ground in hira- and taka-zogan with nashiji.

SIZE 34.1 cm x 23.6 cm

Condition: Superb and absolutely original and unrestored condition. Very few microscopic losses, minor wear and traces of use, mostly to feet at backside. The silver frame bent and loose at one corner. An absolute rarity in this state of preservation.
Provenance: British collection.

For any collector of small fine objects like netsuke, inro and tsuba, this is a must-have acquisition!

Shibayama Yasumasa was the grandson of the founder of the Shibayama school, Senzo Shibayama. He won prizes at the second and third Naikoku Kangyo Hakurankai (National Industrial Exhibitions) in 1881 and 1890 (see Tadaomi Goke, Julia Hutt and E. A. Wrangham, Meiji no Takara, Treasures of Imperial Japan: Lacquer, London, Kibo Foundation, 1995, Part 1, p.32 and Part 2, cat. nos.160,167).

Auction result comparison: Compare with a pair of vases by the same artist, Shibayama Yasumasa, sold at Bonham's London on November 9th, 2017, lot 295, sold for £ 93.750, - .