Featured Japanese Lacquer Tray with High Relief & Gold Work

I've looked closely but can find nothing that looks like a signature. Hard to believe the artist didn't leave his mark on it, somewhere...

Lacquer on Cypress, probably: ~14 inches square, ~1 1/4 inches high; ~28 ounces. Purchased in Nagoya circa 1950.

I think the process is called Maki-e, but that's all I can tell you about it. It's destined for an auction house, along with several other of uncle Leonard's treasures. Please comment...I'm really in the dark, here.
Thanks for lookin'!

 

it's beautiful.......

 

Beautiful-by the way,who the heck's Uncle Leonard ?

 

a guy who passed on...treasures !

 

Very nice!

 

He sounds like a very nice man.

 

That is lovely! I know nothing except to say it's a quality piece.

 

Whit-You've got some pretty good history & documentation on this piece-what a Relief that is ! I wouldn't know Maki-e from Makerel.
You know Whit,you really are quite a cosmopolitan guy.

 

Unless the auction house can tell you exactly what it is and what it's worth I wouldn't put it in, I take punts on un-named works in auctions and this screams quality (I no nothing about lacquered work) I would take my time and find out if it were mine

 

Well, he was...an' he wasn't. The story is long. an' for the most part, tedious. But the net result is I've received a few exceptional pieces of Japanese art, and selling some of them has materially cushioned the comfort of my dotage. In addition, I've enjoyed owning an' fondling them for awhile...an' sharing them here.

 

Yessir! Due diligence always...an' then only offer it to one of the few trustworthy houses with acknowledged expertise in quality Asian art. I'm aware that, even then, there are risks...but at some point y'gotta fish or cut bait. Ain't no pockets in a shroud.

 

An' you, good sir, are too generous by half...but Thanks!

 

uncle Leonard was quite the connoisseur,was he your real uncle ?

 

Yup...Dad's older brother, a favorite uncle in my youth.
I'll take a pic of his card, which will tell a bit of the story.
The pencil notations are in the original. There's a lot more to his story...but not for right now.

 

look forward to it.

 

My father (and mother) were stationed in Japan at the end of the occupation/beginning of the Korean war. (I am assuming that is why your uncle was there.) Dad was a physician in the army. They brought back some beautiful things as well, and I grew up with an appreciation of Japanese art. Dad told us that such objects were readily available because many of the Japanese were in desperate need of cash in the aftermath of the war.

 

Right time & place-like a Babylonian entering Solomon's Temple.

 

Leonard told the same story. Their 'houseboy' was the Postmaster of the Prefecture surrounding Nagoya. Many of the fine things he brought back were received from that person in appreciation for kindnesses extended toward him an' his family by Leonard & his wife, Annabelle. Some were 'purchased' on the street for cigarettes or chocolate.

Leonard was part of the first contingent of occupation forces immediately after the formal surrender of Japan ending WWII. He stayed throughout that occupation, returning stateside in early 1952.