Taisho Period (1912-1926) Gold and Black Lacquer Obento Lunch Box/Picnic Box filled with symbolism of eternal love. The deer and crane are symbols of longevity, and when they are paired they are symbols of eternal love. The pine tree is also a symbol of longevity. The pastoral scenes and gold flowers are beautifully rendered in gold lacquer on black lacquer. The handle is in the form of a pair of dragons. 14w x 12h x 7d inches, 35.5w x 30.5h x 18d inches.

A Japanese lacquer bowed top box with portrait of a Kabuki actor - presumably named in gold lacquer and the role of Daihachi named in a lustrous iron color. All slightly raised work, the portrait is in gray, black, red, flesh tone, browns and gold. Lines including pattern and folds in the figure's attire and hair in his coiffure and sideburns cleanly defined with raised work. Metal along the facing edges of the top and bottom have no doubt contributed nicely to the preservation of the box...

Japanese food container, at times known as a jikiro, where food items are placed inside the container. In tea ceremony, the object is used to place sweets inside. The object is done in black lacquer with makie decorated with a motif of a peony. Inside the container is decorated with gold in the style known as Nashiji, or pear skin. Age: 20th century. Size: Diameter 8" Height 4.75"

Japanese lacquer box form the Meiji/Taisho period circa 19th century. Decorated with gold flowering clematis vines on dark brown lacquer interior with gold rim inset and shallow tray. Accented with gilt fittings with paulownia decoration and ring handles. Dimensions: 5 1/2'' X 6 1/2'' X 5"

A elegant and luxurious cigarette set by Ikkakusai, Nagata Tomijiro. The work is a combination of silver, woven strips of wood, and lacquer. The exterior section of the lid has two fan shaped silver plates insets with traditional motifs of bamboo, lingzhi (reishi), and the sage jurojin. The box has a metal and glass ash tray, a compartment for a lighter, and below a drawer for extra cigarettes. Cigarettes became popular in Japan during the Taisho and early Showa Periods...

Japanese Kamakura-Bori lacquer box on tray. The cover with bold, high-relief carving of bird in branch - the almost black surface rubbed to a soft, coral-red toned burnished finish. The softly irregular honeycomb textured ground with leathery texture continuing to the sides of the box bottom and into the rim of the tray with edges also rubbed to the underlying coral-red and burnished smooth. Signed under the tray...

Japanese small lacquer chest from the Meiji period (circa 1900). Beautiful lacquer detail with playful fudogs and butterflies. Fine details in the hardware and lacquer on each of the panels. Dimensions: 19" Long X 18 1/4" High X 11 3/4" Deep

A small round gourd: polished, cut and decorated inside with delicate fronds in gold on black maki-e. This is superb. It is 3 inches diameter (7.5 cm) and in perfect condition, enclosed in a quality old kiri-wood box. .

A pair of lacquered nesting trays decorated with motif of waves in the Rinpa style. The set is titled: (transliteration: Korin Shu Urushi-e, Kuro Ikkan Maru Iriko Bon) Red Lacquer Korin Style Motif, Nesting Circular Trays in the Ikkan Style. The trays were done by an artist named Housai who was possibly active around the mid to late 20th century, comes with box. Age: Showa Period Size: (small tray) diameter: 17.1" height 1.3" (large tray) diameter: 18" height: 1.3"

A two drawer Japanese box done in a kinji or gold background with fine paintings of pine and flowers with a family crest set in the open areas of the piece. The box has metal fittings for the drawers and a handle to carry the chest. Often lacquer works with family crests were made for dowries for high ranking samurai families. Age: 19th century Size: length 10.75" width 10.75" height 10.25"

Charming Kiri (paulownia wood) lacquered Japanese Container. Inlaid on branches with mother of pearl. Decorated elegantly with blooming cherry blossoms, with bird perched on a branch. Has a pleasing deep mahogany-like lacquer finish. Taisho Period (1912-1926) Dimensions: 7.25" High X 3.25" diameter

DESCRIPTION: A skillfully lacquered suzuri-bako (writing box) from the Meiji Period, early 1900’s. The lid of the rectangular box is decorated with a takamakie floral design in gold, silver and shu (a hue of red-orange) lacquer on a black ro-iro ground. The interior of the lid and box are sprinkled in a nashiji cloud motif. This suzuri-bako is a complete set, fitted with the original water dropper and inkstone and its original kiri (paulownia) wood box with inscription...

Antique Japanese gyosho bako (merchant's box) with a red-orange lacquer (negoro) finish and iron hardware with hirute shaped drawer pulls. It features three drawers on its front, two with iron lock plates, and a hinged door at its very bottom with a sideways facing handle over crossed hardware, with three extra drawers inside. Size: 34.5" height, 11" width, 16" depth

Antique Japanese lacquer box for the storage of cigarettes, with a woven "basket" exterior and black lacquer interior. The lid has two mixed metal fans incised with an old immortal man and foliage. The box has a free-sliding drawer and its top has a metal ashtray lined with glass. It sits on a lacquer tray with mixed metal handles. Taisho period (1912-1925) Size: (box) 5.75" length, 3" height (tray) 8.75" length, 7.25" width

Antique Japanese black lacquer box, with makie (sprinkled gold powder) designs on its top and sides. The lid shows an open book with images of bamboo and flying sparrows and a scroll with raised images of leaves and foliage, and its sides have other auspicious maki-e elements such as butterflies and flowers...

DESCRIPTION: Dramatic in its bold yet simple design, this Japanese lacquer box makes a striking statement. The background of this large box is lacquered in a mirror-like, black ro-iro ground, with a vivid gold lacquer design on the lid of bamboo superimposed over a ginko leaf, all within a gold circle. The box is supported on four curved feet, and the interiors are brilliantly lacquered in orange-red...

Antique Japanese Funa Bako or ship safe chest with an original black lacquer finish. Ornate iron hardware decorates the front of the box with a side locking mechanism. Behind the front door are six drawers with ring pulls. Two of the drawers are precious and small, one labelled in kanji. Outside is made of Hinoki wood (Cypress) while the inside drawers are made of Kiri wood (Paulownia). Dates from the Edo age 19th century. Size: 15" height, 17" depth, 13" width

Pair of cylindrical, footed, ribbed boxes with circular lids. The food container or game box is lacquered in black with 9 "mitsudome" mon pattern on four sides. The four feet are decorated with incised brass hard mounts and its lid and box are held together with original pale green silk cord tassels.

Meiji Age (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 13" height x 13.5" width