Tobacco tray with wave design [one of a pair] c. 1920s - 1930s

This gorgeous tobacco tray with wave design was created by Kamisaka Sekka. Imagine him in his studio, carefully applying delicate brushstrokes. The dark, lustrous lacquer of the tray provides a stark contrast to the stylized waves rendered in what looks like silver paint, so they really pop. You know, there’s something so satisfying about functional art like this. Sekka, like many artists, was influenced by the natural world. Think about the gentle curve of a wave, how it builds and crests, and how he's captured the essence of that movement with such minimal strokes! It reminds me of Hokusai's 'Great Wave' but with a calmer, more intimate feel. Sekka’s tray invites you to contemplate the beauty of everyday objects, and how even the simplest forms can carry profound artistic expression. We see the wave, but also the hand of the artist, connecting us to a history of seeing and making. It shows how artists are in dialogue, constantly reimagining and reshaping the world around them.