Sosuke Namikawa (Attributed)

Japanese Table Cabinet with Cloisonne Panels Attributed to Namikawa Sosuke

Documentation Notes

The cloisonne panels

Origin

Japan

Period

1900-1919

Materials

Cloisonne and wood

Dimensions

W.	15 in;	H.	23.25 in;	D.	9 in;
W.	38.1 cm;	H.	59.06 cm;	D.	22.86 cm;

Condition

Good. Warm patina and minor surface wear. Stable internal enamel hairlines on two panels as shown (last two photos, the top 1st and 3rd. The hairlines are discernible in the 1st and barely visible in the 3rd). A small old restored crack to the wood back.

Creation Date

late 19th to early 20th century

Description

A Japanese wood and cloisonne cabinet circa Meiji period, late 19th-early 20th century. The small table top cabinet features
a single drawer on top, four small doors with cloisonne panels on the second tier, a pair of larger cloisonne doors on the main level flanked by two skinny panels, and finally two drawers on the low level. It has a scroll carved base and sides as well four pagoda-shape cornices. The cloisonne panels were obviously the work of two different artist studios and were assembled on purpose to demonstrate a mixture of styles. The small top and the two skinny panels on the main level are of an earlier scrolling design that emphasize the wire work; The rest of the eight larger panels were done in a much later and painterly style attributed to Namikawa Sosuke (1847–1910), whose unique naturalistic style predominates with a zen ambience. The sides of the cabinet was nicely carved with the double dragon relief.
A similar but much larger cabinet in Khalili's Meiji collection attributed the work to the Honda and Namikawa Sosuke respectively. For reference of that cabinet, see Splendors of Meiji: Treasures of Imperial Japan. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection page 228, figure 218.

Styles / Movements

Asian, Traditional

Incollect Reference Number

304664