A striking large lacquer box decorated with orchids on pink by Banura Shogo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kameko-gata Te-bako. Inside is simple polished black lacquer.The outside back ground is powdered dry lacquer mixed with silver.Overtop is applied the various colored lacquer leaves and mother of pearl inlay flowers.It is 28 x 46 x 11 cm (11 x 18 x 4-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Banura Shogo (1901-1982) was born in Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture, and studied lacquer in the Wajima tradtion.In 1925 he moved to Kyoto.It was a time of great interest in ancient things, forgotten styles, and revival of lost techniques.Together with Okumura Kyuka he established a research group dedicated to the study and revival of lacquer techniques.He exhibited with the Bunten (Teiten/Nitten) National Art Exhibition and was first awarded there in 1930 for a cabinet, and in 1936 for a screen at the same venue.The following year would see his work garner a prize at the Great Paris Exhibition.Post war he would establish the group Sojinsha which would evolve into Shugenkai in the 1950s.In 1963 e would be granted the Zosho prize from the Japan Art Academy.Ever promoting the field of lacquer, he served as chairman of the Kyoto Shitsugeika Kyokai (Kyoto Association of Lacquer Artists) and was named an Artist of Merit by Kyoto city for his contribution to the arts and crafts in 1972, nad by Kyoto prefecture in 1974.In 1981 this cumlminated wit hteh Order of the Rising Sun , one of the highest national honors for an artist in Japan.He died the following year.Works by him are held in the collections of: The Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, The Tokyo Museum of Modern Art, The Kyoto Shinkin Bank Musuem, Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine as well as numerous private collections.
