| @A black-lacquered desk with cabriole legs. A hakue and kirigane
border line divides the centre of the desktop from a mother-of-pearl
inlaid surround of peony scrolls. The peony flowers are of shell backed
with gold leaf, and together with the leaf veins are hairline engraved.
The same gold-backed shell is used to decorate the edges of the table
with a lozenge diaper pattern. The underside of the desk is inscribed
in gold with the words. "Made by Une Ryoho of Chuzan.' making
this one of the few signed pieces of Ryukyuan lacquerware. Another
piece with the identical inscription, a quiver in black lacquer with
mother-of-pearl inlay, design of family crest, grapes and squirrels,
is in the possession of the Tokyo National Museum. |
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