Japanese lacquer suzuribako or calligraphy writing box. The box is wood with lacquer, gold gilt sprinkled lacquer, and inlaid shell on the lid, adorned with scrolling leaves, floral medallions and motifs of sparrows. The box interior is red lacquer with gold lacquer patterns. The inside box contains an attached inkstone, a brush, and a small brass water dropper. Underneath is a shallow compartment for the storage of calligraphy papers...

A decidedly different version of this theme, a Festive carved wooden Tai (Red Snapper) fish with removable side for sashimi coated inside in gold with bone teeth and inlayed bone eyes. The craftsman ahs gone to great lengths to make this as realistic as possible, from the textures of the skin to the folds in the fins and coloring. Unusually, most dishes in this vein are one sided, however this is equally realistically carved on both sides...

A gorgeous Jubako stacking box of lacquered wood decorated with burgeoning grape vines in powdered gold maki-e dating from the 19th century enclosed in the original wooden storage box. Inside oxidized vermilion grants a sense of celebration, while the outside covered in polished black is the perfect back drop to the shimmering gold decoration. Assembled it is 24 x 26 x 31 cm (9-1/2 x 10-1/4 x 12 inches). Overall it is in very good condition, with some minor dings in the edges typical of use...

A small round heavily lacquered box made to contain incense carved with Peonies by Imperial Artist Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Layer upon layer of lacquer has been applied over time, each subsequent layer allowing for drying, then the entire is carved through with the floral motif. This would likely have been years in the making. This kogo is 3 inches (7.5 cm) diameter and in perfect condition signed underneath Sozan...

Mother of pearl flowers rise among the large leaves of a paulownia tree on this small lacquer box and tray dating from the early 20th century enclosed in the original signed wooden box by Yoshida Rissai. The workmanship is flawless, with a fine sense of depth brought on by the mother of pearl lined with gold powder and set against a ground of golden mist on black. Inside is a rich, red tinged nashiji ground...

A sheer cascade of silver mist drops into the darkness beyond a golden outcrop harboring an ancient pine laden with blossoming wisteria vines. Togidashi, taka-maki-e and kirigane, this is a breathtaking box dating from the 19th to opening of the 20th century. Inside is elegantly decorated with drifting clouds of golden mist. Overall in excellent condition, enclosed in a period wooden box. It is 23 x 21.5 x 4.3 cm (9 x 8-1/2 x 1-3/4 inches).

Five matching boxes covered in black lacquer decorated with togidashi feathers in silver and gold enclosed in the original wooden box signed Shunji (active Meiji-Taisho period) and titled Hane-no-zu Maki-tabaco Shoshi (Feather decorated tabaco chest). Each faceted wood box has been covered in polished ink-black ro-iro lacquer, the diaphanous feathers then created on the surface with powdered gold and silver; then all is covered again in lacquer and polished through to reveal the design...

A Japanese paulownia wood Kashi-ki “sweet box” with leaves and flowers motifs, decorate with kijimakie lacquer design and gold parts, mother of pearl inlays and lead foil. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 13 x 10 x 6,5cm. Condition report: Good condition

Antique Japanese lacquer suzuribako decorated with a pair of deer in raden (shell inlay) and lead on a black lacquer ground. The box opens to reveal a writing set including a lacquered copper rectangular water dropper, an ink stone with brush rests on either side against a background of black lacquer with Rinpa style gold maki-e designs of curling plant fronds.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" long x 9 1/2" wide x 3 1/4" high

Kobako in dark brown lacquer. In imitation of bamboo, the inner part is made of bamboo and the outer part of the box is made of kaki wood. It represents the cross section of a bamboo cane node with its light brown diaphragm slightly bulging in the center of the lid and stand. External layer of the bamboo cane representing the cellulosic fibers.
Bamboo, strong, flexible and fast growing, symbolizes strength, flexibility and prosperity...

Wooden suzuribako decorated with two hares with red eyes in gold and silver lacquer surrounded by grass.

The interior is made of negoro-nuri lacquer. This is an ancient technique, developed in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) at the Negoro temple in the ancient province of Kii (now Wakayama prefecture). It is characterized by vermilion color, made from cinnabar and showing natural brush marks...

Dark brown natural wood suzuribako (writing set) with polychrome takamaki-e lacquer decoration of toys, with a rabbit on its cushion and a horse head to ride with its cover.

Interior in negoro-nuri lacquer. This is an ancient technique, developed in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) at the Negoro temple in the ancient province of Kii (now Wakayama prefecture). It is characterized by its vermilion color, made from cinnabar and showing natural brush marks...

Brush box (fudebako) made of wood and lacquer. On the lid, lacquer decoration representing sagittarius, a flower inlaid with ceramic and a leaf inlaid with mother-of-pearl (raden).
Interior and base of the box in nashi-ji lacquer.

Taisho Era (1912-1926)
Height: 1.4 in. (3.5 cm) - width: 2.8 in. (7.2 cm) - depth: 9.4 in. (23.9 cm)

Spectacular Taisho Period Ca.1920 Kamakura-Bori lacquered wood carving with chrysanthemum petals in beautiful relief. Ca. 1920. Good condition ( see Pics.). Ask for shipping quote.

A carved lacquer box which pays homage to Chinese literary taste while presenting itself clearly in a modern, Japanese way (for turn of the century lacquerware at least) by 2nd generation lacquer artist Ishii Yusuke enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The tsuishu lacquer technique requires applying layer upon layer of lacquer which is then carved through and polished, a painstaking process...

A Taisho period Lacquer writing box of superb quality decorated with a design of a stone lantern under broad leaves enclosed in an age darkened kiri-wood box. The scene is performed with Thick slices of shell and lead inlay on black Ro-iro ground with Taka-maki-e and Hira-maki-e designs. Inside is finished in Kin-gin (gold and silver) Nashiji...

An exquisite lacquered box covered in gold powder prominently bearing the imperial crest given as a gift to Baron Nakamura Satoru in Meiji 44 (1911). According to the inside of the lid this box was created for the Meiji emperor and given in gratitude to the Baron for his support in creating the Keanfu memorial for fallen soldiers of the Russo-Japanese war. The box is an exquisite example of Imperial splendor featuring leaves tinged with kiri-gane gold inlay over powdered gold on a surface dust...

A spectacular Meiji to Taisho period Golden box decorated with a spray of flowers under an imperial Chrysanthemum. The interior and bottom are elegant Nashiji, and the border between box and lid is protected by a solid silver rim. Kirigane cut gold flakes decorate the raised leaves. It comes enclosed in a custom made kiri-wood storage box. The gilded receptacle is 30 x 24.5 x 14 cm (12 x 9-3/4 x 5-1/2 inches) and it is in excellent condition.