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Catalog Data

Medium:
Lacquer, gold, silver, and pigments, wood, silver water dropper
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 4.9 x 22.9 x 25.1 cm (1 15/16 x 9 x 9 7/8 in)
Type:
Container
Origin:
Japan
Date:
19th century
Period:
Edo period or Meiji era
Description:
Suzuribako Inkstone box with a black lacquer ground to which gold dust has been sparsely applied and decorated in hirame and multicolored togidashi.
Inside contains two trays, one with a silver mizuire and socket and suzuri.
Provenance:
From at least 1914-to 1943?
Alexander George Mosle (1862-1945), possibly purchased in Japan [1]??
?
1943-1944?
A. Henry Mosle (1866-1957), held a lien on Alexander George Mosle’s collection through a Deed of Trust – Chattels [2]?
From 1944?
The Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Alexander Mosle through A. Henry Mosle [3]?
Notes:
[1] See Alexander George Mosle, “Japanese Works of Art: Armour, Weapons, Sword-Fittings, Lacquer, Pictures, Textiles, Colour-Prints, selected from the Moslé Collection” [book] (Leipzig: E. A . Seemann, 1914), vol. 1, cat. 1697, p. 22; vol. 2, pl. CVIII. See also Alexander George Mosle, “The Mosle Collection: Descriptive Catalogue to be used in Connection with the Illustrations of ‘Japanese works of art’ selected from the Moslé Collection – Portfolio II” [book] (Leipzig: Poeschel & Trepte, 1933), vol. II, cat. 1697, p. 39. Alexander Mosle was a businessman who lived in Japan from 1884-1907, during which time he began collecting Japanese works of art.
[2] See June 17, 1943 Deed of Trust – Chattels, between Alexander G. Mosle and Jesse Knight and Eugene W. Goodwillie, trustees on behalf of A. Henry Mosle. Alexander was indebted to his cousin Henry, and his entire collection of Japanese Art was secured as chattel for the debt under the terms of the Deed. See original Deed of Trust – Chattels in object file.?
?
[3] The Freer Gallery of Art paid A. Henry Mosle and Alexander G. Mosle separate payments on May 29, 1944, approved on May 27, 1944. See also April 28, 1944 letter from A.G. Wenley to Alexander Mosle wherein Wenley indicates which items the Freer wishes to purchase from Mosle’s inventory list. See also May 26, 1944 letter from A. Henry Mosle to Alan C. Maxwell, charging Maxwell to act as agent for Henry, in the matter of the release of the Deed of Trust – Chattels at the sale of the selected objects from Alexander’s collection to the Freer. See object file for copy of invoice, letters, and original Release of Deed of Trust - Chattels.?
Research updated January 12, 2023
Collection:
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History:
A Journey of Taste: Freer and Japanese Scroll Mounting (April 15, 2023 to March 3, 2024)
The Arts of Japan (July 14, 2012 to January 13, 2013)
Seasons: Arts of Japan (February 5, 2011 to January 13, 2013)
Autumn Colors (October 19, 1984 to December 20, 1984)
Japanese and Chinese Lacquer (September 22, 1982 to June 30, 1983)
Japanese Lacquer (18 May 1980 to 15 June 1980)
Japanese Lacquer (April 16, 1979 to October 8, 1980)
Japanese Art, Galleries 3, 4, and 5 (January 1, 1963 to September 16, 1970)
Previous custodian or owner:
Alexander G. Mosle
A. Henry Mosle
Topic:
lacquer  Search this
Edo period (1615 - 1868)  Search this
Meiji era (1868 - 1912)  Search this
writing  Search this
maple tree  Search this
Japan  Search this
Japanese Art  Search this
Credit Line:
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Accession Number:
F1944.24a-h
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
Related Online Resources:
Google Cultural Institute
See more items in:
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
Data Source:
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye39b5c7719-e3c0-49e9-af4c-f32ec4369359
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:fsg_F1944.24a-h