A VASE, 1925

Katsu Hamanaka had studied art in Japan before settling in Paris in the early 1920s. Here, an introduction to Seizo Sugawara, who worked with Eileen Gray and Jean Dunand, prompted his own interest in the medium of lacquer. Hamanaka executed some magical large screen works in gilding and lacquer, but also became well known for this small scale, jewel-like objects.