Plaque in a rectangular form decorated with a modernist undersea design of a large ebi or shrimp and two flounder surrounded by stylized sand and bubbles. Of gold and silver lacquers executed in takamaki-e and very fine nashiji techniques, roiro or mirror-polished black lacquer, raden or inlaid mother-of-pearl, and inlaid metals. Signed in raised silver lacquer on the lower right corner by the artist: Tamotsu (Onaga Tamotsu, born 1932). The panel in the original stainless steel frame. Showa era, circa 1975 – 1985.

With a cloth-covered paper board storage box.

Born in 1932 in Nagami City, Toyama Prefecture, Onaga Tamotsu studied lacquer under Yamazaki Ritsuzan. In 1951 he first exhibited at the national level with the 7th Nitten, a venue at which he was to show 14 times. He also assisted as a judge for the Toyama Prefectural exhibition. In 1964 his entry to the Nitten won the tokusen or gold prize as well as the Hokuto award. The following year he was awarded mukansa or non-vetted status. In 1965 as well he exhibited at the Berlin Fine Art Festival and was selected as a member of the Gendai Kogei Bijutsukai Kyokai (Association of Contemporary Craft Artists). In 1966 he exhibited in Rome with the Nihon Gendai Kogei Ten (Japan Contemporary Art Craft Exhibition), and in London the next year when the exhibition traveled on. In 1968 his entry received both the Member’s Award and the Minister of Culture Award at the Gendai Kogei Bijutsu Ten (Exhibition of Contemporary Crafts and Fine Art). Receiving a commission for an entry to the Nitten exhibition in 1969, his work also was awarded the Kiku-hana Sho (Chrysanthemum Award). From 1970 through 1976, Tamotsu continued to exhibit at the Nitten and the Gendai Kogei Bijutsu Ten. After 1976, he was granted a commission from the Emperor. The Nitten Association as well as the Toyama Prefectural Government purchased his works. Onaga Tamotsu has held solo exhibitions at Tokyo Ginza Matsuya, Osaka Daimaru and Hankyu, as well as the Shinjuku Toyo Gallery.