Featured large Jap lacquer box c/b10

Hi folks

this was something i found at a boot......its not in the greatest nick

but liked the Abalone details

the painted inside felt type decoration segmented boxes were AWFUL Tacky and falling to bits so ripped it all out

its only going to be used as storage so serves a purpose now anyway

thinking its gotta be early 20th (or around)

any thoughts appreciated

 

Early 20th century export or tourist jewellery box.
The decoration represents what looks like the Arakura Sengen shrine torii (temple gate) with Mt Fuji in the background. And a lady in a rickshaw, of course. (For our American friends, the lady is not a geisha.)

 

great info ta Aj, the internal parts were gawd awful so had to go, mirror and terrible tacky paintings

 

It seems to me that the abalone inlays are backed with colored lacquer? So they need to be cut extremely thin to reveal the color underneath? Very interesting!

 

LMAO every time I see a western antique dealer( even high end ones) calling any east asian women Geisha

 

interesting thanks Shammie, the hinges are a bit ropey as well, but really liked the top part

 

The inlay is indeed very thin. I have lacquer boxes and snuff bottles with this type of inlay, it looks like there is paint behind the MOP. The MOP is said to be haliotis shell, which is like a miniature abalone.

If anyone wants to research it, in the West this inlay technique is called laque or lac burgauté.

 

I know! I have no idea how that idea came about, but I only see it on US sites. As if all Japanese women had one and the same profession.

 

I also saw a listing in the website of UK’s largest antique center of a clearly Chinese export era panel, and they labeled it Geisha Art can’t really stand it from a dealer

 

Ditto.

 

nice find Charles !

 

I resemble that remark

 

You're not a geisha either.

 

for next time............

show the inside before gutting it !

it may have held clues.....

 

I'm sorry that has upset you. I imagine the term has been overused when selling an item to make it more interesting. Rest assured, not all people born in the US assume that all traditionally dressed Japanese women are geisha.
Now that you have mentioned it though, she does have that geisha hairstyle. If the box was made for tourist or export, why not portray the popular, glamours, geisha?
A better question might be, what makes this woman not a geisha?

 

She has a traditional hairstyle, but different from a geisha hairstyle, which was usually a wig, ready decorated with all the bits and bobs needed for the blingy geisha style.

The easiest way to spot a geisha is the lower neckline at the back:



As you can see, Charlie's girl() doesn't have that, she is dressed 'decently'.
Another way is the amount of bling in a lady's hair. Geishas had to attract men, and you don't do that by looking like a wallflower.
And there is the white face and neck paint and tiny red mouth.

 

It hasn't upset me personally, but why assume that East Asian women only have one role in life, which is to please men? It is not only racist, but also misogynist stereotyping.

 

I blame it on Utamaro.

 

I have to disagree that geisha was/is not considered 'decent'.
From what I understand they were considered revered performance artist and still are today. They are not sex workers, but skilled in the art of conversation, music, dance, among other things.
Why would anyone assume that East Asian women have only one role in life?
We are talking about a box here, or other articles for sale, that portray a lovely woman. As something that may be royal will make an average item more interesting, wouldn't the same go for the geisha?
Also, the name calling because difference of opinion? Not cool.