Matsugae Funyū (act. 19th century)

A kanshitsu chawan (dry-lacquer teabowl) of bamboo shape

Signed Matsugae Funyū

Japan, 19th century, Edo period

Dimensions: H. 8,5cm x W. 9cm x D. 9cm

Awasebako (fitted box) inscribed:

Lid: Funyū saku Takezutsu chawan (Bamboo-cylinder teabowl by Funyu); Naniwa ni oite shiu (it is done in Naniwa/Osaka), Ho?an

Lid interior: Meishū Enkyō kō no Ikkan shi (learned from Master Ikkan?); Matsugae Funyū

Collector’s labels with a collection number, artist name, title of the bowl to the sides of the box.

Matsugae Funyū (date unknown) was a lacquer artist from the late Edo period, believed to have originated from Owari Province (part of modern-day Aichi Prefecture). Although he hailed from a family with ties to Matsue and was favoured by Matsudaira Fumai (1751-1818), a renowned tea master and the seventh lord of the Matsue domain in Izumo Province (present-day Shimane Prefecture), Funyū never visited Matsue during his lifetime. Consequently, he was given the name ‘Funyū’, meaning ‘one who does not enter’. The artist is known for his refined works, many of which feature kanshitsu (dry lacquer) and inlay techniques. In his later years, he retreated to Kaguraoka, Kyoto, and became known as Kaguraoka Funyū. He is also known by the names of Issei-an and Mujin-an.