Kazaribako or ornamental box in a rectangular form ornamented with a design of a pair of gold and silver hares running over waves, the interior of the box with the moon. The piled waves executed in shades of orange, red, green, yellow and black layered and carved lacquer, the rabbits in gold and silver lacquer, the interior of the box with scattered nashiji gold flake clouds and a raised silver lacquer moon. The rims of applied pewter. Signed on the reverse with a carved signature by the artist: Yozei Zo or Made by Yozei (Tsuishu Yozei XX, the go or art name of Tsuishu Toyogoro, 1880 – 1952). Early Showa Era, circa 1926 – 1940.

With a double tomobako or original box, the exterior box lacquered and the lid inscribed in gold lacquer: Tama Usagi Choshitsu Kazaribako or Treasure Rabbit Carved Lacquer Ornamental Box; the interior box of unlacquered paulownia wood, inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Choshitsu Kazaribako or Carved Lacquer Ornamental Box; the reverse of the interior box lid inscribed and signed by the artist: Tama Usagi Tsuishu Yozei Zo or Treasure Rabbit Made by Yozei, and sealed: Yozei.

Born to a famous family of Kyoto lacquer artists who specialized in carved red lacquers beginning in the 14th century, Tsuishu Yozei XX studied lacquer under Shirayama Shosai, sculpture with Ishikawa Komei, and painting under Satake Eiko. He brought a fresh vision to carved lacquer and revitalized the art form. Tsuishu Yozei XX exhibited his work widely, including at the Paris Exhibition of 1900, the Tokyo Industrial Exhibition of 1907, the Noten of 1913, again in Paris in 1925 (where he won a grand prize), the Teiten from 1927, the Shin-Bunten from 1937 and the Nitten in 1946 and 1949 until his death. Examples of his work are illustrated in the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art catalogue Japanese Lacquer Art: Modern Masterpieces, page 89, number 79, and page 136, numbers 154 – 156.

A masterpiece of carved lacquer, this kazaribako displays the genius of Tsuishu Yozei XX. The artist renders the traditional subject of rabbits, waves and the moon with technical brilliance and a stylish modernity.