Rare Japanese Meiji or Taisho (Early 20thc) Set of Five Lacquered Keyaki (Zelkova Tree) Wood Rounded Square Trays

1900 - 1920

Sold by Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art

Description

Beautiful Japanese Meiji or Taisho (early 20thC) set of five lacquered keyaki (zelkova tree) wood rounded square trays, each decorated in gold, silver and iro-e takamaki-e and lacquered with a different design symbolising a different month of the year (over the natural woodgrain ground), as follows:

1) First month, depicting the New Year: a footed tray with kagami mochi rice cakes, sprigs of plum beside a fan decorated cranes flying against the rising sun above waves.

2) Third month, depicting the Girls' Festival: paired male and female tachibina paper dolls resting against a branch of peach flower.

3) Fifth month, depicting the Boys' Festival: a kabuto (helmet), and a stalk of shobu (iris).

4) Seventh month, depicting the Star Festival: a footed tray laden with summer vegetables including a pumpkin, an egg plant, and a cucumber, with a stalk of bamboo on the ground.

5) Ninth month, depicting the Chrysanthemum Festival: a spray of chrysanthemums and a bamboo ikebana flower vase.

The trays come in their original wood storage box. Each tray measures ca. 32.5cm x 33cm (12¾in x 13in).

Lovely original condition.

Physical Dimensions

Height

32.5cm (12.80")

Width

33cm (12.99")

Declaration

Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1044763

Dealers Internal Reference

AD570/24

Description

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1) First month, depicting the New Year: a footed tray with kagami mochi rice cakes, sprigs of plum beside a fan decorated cranes flying against the rising sun above waves.

Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art

fig 1. Rare Japanese Meiji or Taisho (early 20thC) Set of Five Lacquered Keyaki (Zelkova tree) Wood Rounded Square Trays — fig 1. Rare Japanese Meiji or Taisho (Early 20thc) Set of Five Lacquered Keyaki (Zelkova Tree) Wood Rounded Square Trays

2) Third month, depicting the Girls' Festival: paired male and female tachibina paper dolls resting against a branch of peach flower.

3) Fifth month, depicting the Boys' Festival: a kabuto (helmet), and a stalk of shobu (iris).

fig 2. Rare Japanese Meiji or Taisho (early 20thC) Set of Five Lacquered Keyaki (Zelkova tree) Wood Rounded Square Trays — fig 2. Rare Japanese Meiji or Taisho (Early 20thc) Set of Five Lacquered Keyaki (Zelkova Tree) Wood Rounded Square Trays

4) Seventh month, depicting the Star Festival: a footed tray laden with summer vegetables including a pumpkin, an egg plant, and a cucumber, with a stalk of bamboo on the ground.

5) Ninth month, depicting the Chrysanthemum Festival: a spray of chrysanthemums and a bamboo ikebana flower vase.

The trays come in their original wood storage box. Each tray measures ca. 32.5cm x 33cm (12¾in x 13in).

Lovely original condition.