Yuan/Ming dynasties (14–15C), China
Gift from the Homma family
This is a tsuikoku (carved black lacquer) tray that was probably used as an incense tray on which to place incense containers. The reverse side includes the name of its owner, “Tanui Izo” (Tan’I Igura), written in red.
he name ‘kurikuri’ (literally ‘round’ or ‘curling’) refers to the spiral designs in the carved lacquer; this particular lacquer technique involves carving a design into black lacquer built up of many thin layers. Later on, these spiral motifs came to be known as ‘guri.’
On May 13, 1893, Mitsuteru Homma, the seventh-generation head of the Homma family, received this from the Sakai family, the former lords of the Shōnai domain.