SHIOMI MASAKAGE: A SUPERB FOUR-CASE LACQUER INRO WITH DESIGN OF MAY RAIN By Shiomi Masakage, signed Shiomi Masakage 鹽見政影 Japan, c. 1800, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Sagemonoya (2008) Netsuke and Sagemono, Omnibus, p. 64, no. 138. Of upright rectangular form, the four-case inro very finely decorated in togidashi-e, depicting a man struggling through a rain shower while holding an umbrella, bamboo staff, and a bunch of iris (shobu). Rendered in shades of gold on a yasurime ground, the umbrella has a short line in sosho overlaid in black lacquer that relates to the Tango no Sekku (Boys' Day festival) in May. To the verso a cuckoo flying past a crescent moon with pine trees. The inner compartments of nashiji. Signed to the bottom right in red lacquer SHIOMI MASAKAGE - a direct pupil of Shiomi Masanari, who founded the Shiomi school of lacquerers in the late 17th century, who were renowned for the brilliance of their togidashi work. HEIGHT 8.1 cm Condition: Superb condition with hardly any wear. Provenance: Ex-collection J.B. Gaskell, no. 451, with old collection label in the top case. Sold at Sotheby's, 19 December 1967, London, lot 48. Then ex-collections Mang and Fisher. Auction comparison: For a suzuribako by Shiomi Masanari, featuring a similar design, see Bonhams, Edo Sparkle and Tokyo Splendor, 18 June 2021, New York, lot 57 (sold for 4,080 USD).