Set of Six Large Lacquered Wood Trays with Ink Paintings by Hirao Chikuka

On offer is a set of six wood platter-shape trays, hand-turned and lacquered with ink painting and calligraphy by Hirao Chikuka (1856-1939). Fashioned from elm wood, based on the dramatic grains, these trays were hand-turned with grooves under the wide rim. Each tray has a lighter top circular surface that was hand-painted in ink with commentary inscriptions by artist Hiro Chikuka. The subjects include Narcissus, Plum Blossom, Peony, Bat in flight, Bird on Branches and Crayfish in water, all frequent motifs in the paintings of Nanga School Tradition. Also known as Southern Painting or Bunjinga (Literati Painting), Nanga was a school of Japanese painting flourished in the late Edo period among artists who considered themselves literati, or intellectuals. Chikuka focused on the intellectual and poetic aspects of painting, often incorporating Chinese-style poems into his landscape compositions. These charming ink work on the plate appear spontaneous and free-spirited and embodied the artist's spirit wonderfully.
Each plate was inscribed with a short line serving as a literary title and artist's name, some with Showa 8th year with his age at seventy-eight. This was a common practice for elderly literati painter revealing their advanced age on work. The set of the trays retains their original storage bags made of mulberry paper and the wood storage box tomobako which also bears on the lid both inside and outside including the title inscription, signature, year and even date as shown. The tomobako measures 17.25" x 17.25" x 7".
Hirao Chikuka (1856–1939) was a prominent Japanese Nanga artist active during the Meiji and Taisho periods. He was a pupil of the renowned artist Tanomura Chokunyu (1814–1907), who was a central figure in reviving Nanga during the Meiji era. His work can be seen in the collection of The National Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan in Tokyo. SZK000776 and SZK000784.