Pair of boxes for the black and white playing stones for the game of go (go-ishi-ire or go stone containers), ornamented on the sides with deep-relief, abstract whirlpool designs and on the top with a stylized floral motif surrounding a central mon or crest. Of black and colored, deeply layered lacquers (kanshitsu or dry lacquer construction), sculpted in choshitsu or carved lacquer technique. Each signed on the reverse with an incised signature by the artist: Yozei Kore wo Tsukuru or Made by Yozei (Tsuishu Yozei XX, the go or art name of Tsuishu Toyogoro, 1880 – 1952). Taisho era, circa 1920.

With the tomobako or original box, inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Choshitsu Uzu Mon … or Carved Lacquer Whirlpool Design …; and then signed on the lower left side: Yozei Tsukuru or Made by Yozei, and sealed: Yozei.

Born to a Kyoto family that had specialized in the creation of carved lacquers since the 14th century, Tsuishu Yozei XX is famous for revitalizing and modernizing the art form. He studied maki-e or raised gold lacquering under Shirayama Shosai, sculpture under Ishikawa Komei, and painting under Satake Eiko. He succeeded to the family title in 1896. In 1900, he won a bronze plaque at the Paris World Exposition. At the 1907 Tokyo Industrial Exposition he won a second prize and in 1909 became a counselor to the Japan Crafts Association. In 1913, he exhibited at the first Noten exhibition, displaying and winning prizes at every subsequent exhibition until 1922. In 1923, he founded the Yozei-kai art association and in 1924 held a one-man show at Takashimaya in Osaka (the Japanese equivalent of a prestigious Western art gallery). In 1925, he won a grand prix at the Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs (the great Art Deco exposition). From 1927, he exhibited annually at the Imperial Art Exhibition, beginning with the 8th Teiten. In 1928, he was awarded the Order of the Green Cordon. In 1929, the Yozei-kai published the Tsuishu Sakuhin Zuroku (Catalogue of Works by Tsuishu). In 1934, he held an exhibition of his carved lacquer works at Mitsukoshi in Tokyo and in 1936 participated in the foundation of the Japan Academy of Lacquer Art. From 1937, he exhibited at the Shin-Bunten (the successor to the Teiten). After the Pacific War, he returned to the government sponsored art exhibitions with the 2nd Nitten in 1946 and the 5th Nitten in 1949, thereafter showing annually at that venue. Tsuishu Yozei XX became a counselor of the Nitten in 1950, and died in November of 1952.

A box with a similar motif is illustrated in the 1929 Tsuishu Sakuhin Zuroku (Catalogue of Works by Tsuishu). For other examples of Tsuishu Yozei XX’s work, c.f. the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art catalogue, Japanese Lacquer Art: Modern Masterpieces, plates 147 – 156.