Fine Japanese Art

Fine Japanese Art

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 112. A NANBAN LACQUER SHOKENDAI [LECTERN], MOMOYAMA PERIOD, LATE 16TH-EARLY 17TH CENTURY.

A NANBAN LACQUER SHOKENDAI [LECTERN], MOMOYAMA PERIOD, LATE 16TH-EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Auction Closed

November 5, 04:06 PM GMT

Estimate

8,000 - 10,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

THE PROPERTY OF AN ITALIAN GENTLEMAN

A NANBAN LACQUER SHOKENDAI [LECTERN], MOMOYAMA PERIOD, LATE 16TH-EARLY 17TH CENTURY


constructed from two assembled and hinged planks of softwood, decorated overall in gold hiramaki-e on a black lacquer ground and inlaid in mother-of-pearl, now well worn the centre with sunburst and IHS emblem of the Society of Jesus, surrounded by a border of hanabishi, the reverse in black lacquer with an Italian family crest in gold added in Europe and floral sprays

46 cm., 18 in. high

For further examples of this particular type of Nanban lacquer, made in Japan for use by the Jesuit clergy, see Kyoto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan [Kyoto National Museum], Maki-e, shikkoku to ogon no Nihonbi [The beauty of black and gold Japanese lacquer] (Kyoto, 1995), cat. nos. 139-140; Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, Art Namban: Les Portugais au Japon/Nambankunst: Portugezen in Japan (Brussels, 1989), cat. nos. 35-42 and William Watson (ed.), The Great Japan Exhibition: Art of the Edo Period (London, Royal Academy of Arts, 1981), cat. no. 151. 

 

The shape and construction of these Japanese lecterns was almost certainly derived from Goanese carved wood originals although equally there is evidence to suggest that the form is based on an Islamic prototype. A number of them can be found in Portugal. An example is illustrated in Inventario Artistico de Portugal (Distrio de Santarem), Lisbon 1949 (pl. CXXXV) as is another carved wood and gilt example in the Church of Nossa Senhora da Purificacao, do Olival (pl. CLXXI)