Japan deer ryoshibako box Showa era Kawachi Hisaya

Tebako box with three compartments in golden and nashi-ji lacquer, decorated with golden, red, and kirigane lacquer, golden persimmon tree leaves, among rocks. The compartments are of increasing size from the top. The decoration is in continuity. Persimmon has been cultivated in southern China for more than 2500 years and is believed to have been introduced to Japan in the 8th century. The veneer is a tree with very hard wood, similar to ebony. According to a legend, one specimen survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, close to the epicenter. It is therefore in Japan a symbol of strength and longevity. It is also the national fruit of the country. It is eaten as a traditional dish during New Year's Day celebrations. Tebako literally means "portable box...

Rectangular and flat lacquer Kobako (small box) representing a furoshiki knot seen from above. Fundame background, furoshiki in takamaki-e with floral pattern, inside the folds of the fabric with black and gold sayagata pattern with togidashi maki-e technique. The saya (or sayagata) pattern is composed of Chinese swastikas...

Natsume in dark red lacquer, decorated with autumn leaves and cherry blossoms in hiramaki-e and nashiji. Interior in black lacquer. Maple leaves (Momiji) are celebrated in literatur...

Eight-sided, flared shaped lacquer kobako box, following the decoration on the lid depicting a basket of flowers, composed of peonies and chrysanthemums in gold takamaki-e and hirama...

Black and gold maki-e and hirame-ji lacquer box representing a branch of plum tree in bloom which is entangled in a low wall, highlighted by mother-of-pearl inlay (raden). Inner cover made of nashi-ji lacquer with mizuhiki threads and folds. These are elements, made of silk and washi paper, supposed to bring luck and happiness, intended to seal envelopes on the specifics events (gift, new year, birth, marriage, death, etc.). Shape and color of the threads vary according to the occasion celebrated and the desired meaning. Interior in nashi-ji lacquer, with water cup...

Suzuribako box (empty) in black lacquer. Gold maki-e decoration of a river bordered by peonies, one with red highlights. The edges of the lid are in gold lacquer. Nashi-ji interior.

A large Japanese lacquer box with elaborate Maki-e design from Meiji period, (mid-late 19th century). The generous size of the box was reser...

A large and magnificently decorated Japanese lacquer document box, ryoshibako, signed Umeboshi/Baikyo, late Edo or early Meiji Period, mid 19th century, Japan. The large document box, ryoshibako, of tall, rectangular shape with rounded corners, and fitted with an inrobuta (flush-fitting) cover with beveled edges. The exterior of this exquisite box is decorated all over with fifteen different raised reserves shaped as uchiwa (paddle) fans against a lush and intricate krikane ground imitating shagreen. The uchiwa shaped reserves all of takamaki-e, and exquisitely painted with designs of animals, flowers, and landscapes in silver, gold, maki-e, hiramaki-e, and takamaki-e, with kirikane, nashiji, and polychrome embellishments, upon gold lacquer fudame grounds. The interior of the lid is nothing short of spectacular, featuring a large design of a magnificent and beautifully detailed rooster and hen with chicks gathered around a lazy stream. Large stalks of chrysanthemum bloom behind them. All against an ethereal nashiji ground. The cover of the box features five reserves: 1. Three minogame (turtles with long tails), symbolizing longevity 2. "Narihira Crossing the Sumida" from The Tales of Ise...

A Japanese roiro lacquer scholar combo box with an upper tier of inkstone box (Suzuribako) and a lower document box (Ryoshibako) circa 1910-30s (end of Meiji to Showa period). The high glossy box was beautifully decorated with an image of the famously eccentric Buddhist monks Hanshan and Shide (known in Japan as Kanzan and Jittoku). Often as a pair, they have been a popular motif in Japanese Zen painting...

Showa Period (1926 - 1989) sculpture of a duck resting with its head tucked into its wings. Dry lacquer, or kanshitsu, is a process of layering and manipulating lacquer soaked cloth ...

An antique jubako (stack boxes) with five tiers in an elongated octagon shape circa 19th century (end of Edo or beginning of Meiji period). jubako was traditionally used to store and...

This is a good example of a traditional Japanese Hokai shell storage box for the Kai-awase game. This box is well-detailed in chased brass appliques and makie. The box is in overall ...