Project Description
4-case Lacquer Inro with Ear Cleaning
A courtier sits patiently, holding out his hand, while a temple servant or guard picks his ear, another man roaring with laughter on the verso
Unsigned. Circa 1800
Height: 8.2 cm
Provenance:
J.C. Hawkshaw and Col. Gaskell collections, their labels pasted respectively in the bottom and top cases
Anonymous sale, Sotheby’s London, 16th June 1994, lot 245
Information:
For a long discussion of the subject, à propos a similar inro by Shiomi Masanari, also from the Hawkshaw collection, see S.L. Moss Ltd., they are all fire, and every one doth shine (Elly Nordskog collection), no. 35. I am not sure that I agree that the subject represents the three stages of drunkenness
MR2280
