1947

Fruit Tray (Moriki)

Japanese, 1902 - 1970

This moriki, or tray for seasonal fruit, is decorated with designs of floating bubbles in shades of orange and smoke. The core is made of cloth in the so-called dry lacquer (kanshitsu) technique, making it light and easy to handle when used. The artist, Mori Sanju II, studied lacquer in Kanazawa before moving to Tokyo, where he continued his studies and went on to become an independent artist. He exhibited at a number of Imperial Art Exhibitions in Japan, where his brilliantly modernist lacquers were awarded numerous prizes.