Box - 3-Tiered Jubako Bento Box with Pine and Crane Maki-e by Tomita Nobuyuki (冨田信行) - (No Reserve Price)

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【Product details】

A Showa period three-tiered jubako in the Echizen lacquer tradition, crafted by the first Ritsuzan, Tomita Nobuyuki (b. 1947). The exterior is finished in glossy black lacquer with vermilion lacquer interiors. Each tier has metal rims, likely silver-plated, and the lid is decorated in fine gold maki-e with two flying cranes above stylized pines. The motif of shōkaku (pine and cranes) is an auspicious symbol of longevity, prosperity, and harmony.

Echizen lacquerware, produced mainly in Fukui Prefecture, is one of Japan’s oldest lacquer traditions with over 1,500 years of history, valued for its beauty, durability, and refined craftsmanship.

The lid bears the maki-e signature of Ritsuzan, and the original wooden storage box is signed and sealed by the artist, with an accompanying insert giving details of his biography. Maki-e is a Japanese lacquer decoration technique where gold or silver powder is sprinkled onto lacquer designs to create intricate patterns.

Tomita Nobuyuki, known as the first Ritsuzan, was born in 1947 and studied under the lacquer artist Shinbo Yusai 真保由斎, a Nihon Bijutsuin artist. He was first selected for the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition in 1980, and went on to be consecutively selected seven times. He was awarded the Director’s Prize at the Echizen Lacquerware Exhibition and subsequently received multiple prizes in this field. In 1983 he won the Fukui Prefecture Cultural Newcomer Award at the Fukui Prefectural Art Festival, and from 1986 was exempt from jury selection at the Fukui Prefecture General Art Exhibition, later serving as a judge. In 1986 he became a committee member of the Japan Contemporary Crafts Association and exhibited without jury from then on. He was also accepted multiple times at the Nitten, Japan’s most prestigious national art exhibition. His career reflects both mastery of traditional Echizen lacquer techniques and an important role in advancing them in the modern era.

There are a few areas of slight discoloration on the metal rim. On the side, there is a single spot with a scuff and a small dent. Please refer to the photos for details.

Dimensions: approx. H 19.3 cm W 19.5 cm D 19.5 cm

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