Plum Blossoms

Vintage 1979

FLOWERING PLUM BLOSSOMS

A superb Japanese Echizen Handmade Lacquered Bunko ( book box).

Flowering plum blossoms and buds on a gnarled branch lacquered in shades of gold, wine, brown, mother of pearl inlay, all on a black lacquer background.

Red Seal Mark on lid - Matsuyama (Artist Name)

Original wood box Tomobako. (Outer storage box)

Calligraphy on lid : Ume Maki E Mo You - Plum Makie lacquer pattern.
Bun Ko - book box.
Reverse of Tomobako : Showa go ju yo nen roku gatsu ni ju ku nichi
Showa 54 year (1979) 6th month 29 th day

Condition : Excellent New Condition - Stored Item - Never Used

Refer to the large images for full of details of quality and condition

Length : 33.5 cm
Width : 24.0 cm
Height : 10.5 cm
Weight about 2 kg

A$245

The finest quality wood lacquer in the world is that made in Japan.
Made using only the best woods such as, Zelkova (keyaki), Japanese Chestnut, Japanese Cypress, Magnolia, Cherry.

It takes approximately 6 months and 23 different processes from start to finish to produce each individual Handmade item.

Echizen lacquer:
The origin of Echizen lacquerware (越前漆器) is said to date back to about 1,500 years ago, to the early 6th century.
When the 26th Emperor Keitai was still a Prince at that time, he came to Echizen and ordered a lacquer craftsman in the Katayama village (current, Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture) to repair his broken crown. The urushi lacquer craftsman repaired the crown with lacquer and presented it to him along with a black urushi lacquerware bowl specially made for him.
The Prince was so impressed with the black urushi lacquer bowl then he encouraged the Katayama village to produce lacquerware. This is said to be the beginning of today's Echizen lacquerware.