An exquisite dry-lacquer receptacle covered in tiny circles and graduated red lacquer by Fujita Kiyomasa enclosed in the original singed wooden box titled Nanako komon Moriki (Fish Egg Pattern Vessel). It is 40 x 20.5 x 7.5 cm (16 x 8 x 3 inches) and in perfect condition.
Born in 1921 in Hirosaki City, this traditional Japanese lacquer artist began his formal training in woodcraft at the Prefectural Vocational School, graduating in 1935. In 1947, he joined the Lacquerware Division of the Prefectural Industrial Research Institute, where he contributed significantly to the development of lacquer techniques. His artistry was recognized with a Special Selection Award at the Prefectural Exhibition in 1957, which he won for three consecutive years. From 1961, he served for two years as a member of the exhibition’s operating committee. In 1978, he was appointed Research Manager of the Lacquerware Division and, after retiring in 1982, continued to support the field as a Prefectural Lacquerware Technology Advisor for 12 years. His later career was marked by numerous accolades, including a Silver Prize at the 1991 Japan Design Competition in Ishikawa and an Encouragement Award at the 1992 Takaoka Craft Competition. He held his first solo exhibition in Hirosaki in 1991 and continued to exhibit in celebration of his 77th and 80th birthdays. In 1994, he received the 30th Kiwanis Prize. He passed away on September 19, 2005, at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy of craftsmanship and dedication to the art of lacquerware.
