Antique Japanese fine lacquered kogo box for holding incense. Comprised of 3 stacking compartments, the lower of which has a gilt copper lining. The overall shape is that of a textile knot (musubi) with ornate patterns in gold takamaki-e on black and nashiji lacquer. The sides of the box are further decorated with a landscape of trees on a rocky outcropping, a village of thatched roof huts, and low hills near a lake, all on a fine nashiji ground. With signed kiri wood tomobako...

Antique Japanese safe box with hinged door and 3 interior drawers. The outside is beautifully decorated all over with raised gold and colored lacquer scenes of birds and morning glories, grape vines, and pomegranates on a black lacquer ground. The door opens to reveal drawers decorated with butterflies on a nashiji ground. The inside of the door, with peaches. The inside of the drawers is lacquered black...

Black lacquer box decorated with butterflies and flowers in red, green and yellow lacquer. Detail in powdered gold lacquer and kirikane (small gold square.) Curiously there are only 2 elements in yellow lacquer, a butterfly and a flower. No signature. Good condition, no restoration...

Antique Japanese small censor carved of wood and decorated with a gold maki-e lacquer design of flowers and grasses behind a bamboo garden fence. The gold lacquer stands out against a black lacquer ground. The gilt bronze lid is in the shape of a lattice work basket. Charming and detailed.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 2 1/2" high x 2 3/4" wide

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...

Circular kobako in gold lacquer, decorated with cranes and pines on a nashiji background. The interior is in nashiji lacquer. On the lid, we can see the mon of the Tsugaru family (津軽).
This family is a samurai clan from the province of Mutsu, in the north of Japan. It was originally a branch of the Nambu clan, which became free during the Azuchi Momoyama period (1573-1603)...

Antique Japanese fubako, box for holding letters. Made of lacquered wood with a design of young pine and blossoming plum branches. Both box and lid are decorated in maki-e gold and silver lacquer over a delicate nashiji on a black lacquer ground. The interior has clouds of dense gold nashiji and two mon on the underside of the lid.

Age: Edo Period (18th/19th century)

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

Antique Japanese kogo box (for incense). Round in form and made of lacquered wood. Decorated with a scene of a garden gate and a wild thicket of grasses, vines and flowers under a full moon. The gate and flora are made with maki-e lacquer and shell inlay while the full moon is made of silver. The interior and bottom of the box is covered with gold nishiji on a black lacquer ground.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3" wide x 1 5/8" high

An antique Japanese Gyosho Bako (peddler's box) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. Original Urushi lacquer finish and bronze hand made hardware. Carrying handles through which a pole would be inserted with outer Japanese writing advertising the peddler. Straight Japanese dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nail construction. Four drawers of increasing heights from top to bottom.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 6" Wide by 13" High by 11" Deep

A stunning large antique Japanese lacquer bunko (document box). Decorated all over with raised blossoming white rhododendron. Charming details of the leaves show where they have been nibbled appreciatively. Very unusual and beautiful use of takamaki-e lacquer technique. Signed on the underside of the lid by 源十郎 Genjūrо̄...

Antique Japanese lacquer tebako (accessories box), made of lacquered wood with dense gold nishiji and a gold maki-e lacquer design of flowers, possibly clematis, on a vine. The rim is made of pewter and the interior is lacquered with a spars nishiji on a black lacquer ground. Comes with kiri wood tomobako.

Age: Tokogawa Era, early 18th century

Dimensions: 2" high x 2 7/8" wide x 2 7/8" wide

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

Rare lacquer box with nashiji background. Gold lacquer decoration in relief of pavilions in a lake landscape. Kirikane gold and silver, pine needles in yellow metal inlaid in high relief blackened by oxidation and dirt. Early Edo period, late 17°or earlier. Inside there is a tray. 18 x 10 x 8cm. A broken and badly glued interior edge (visible on photo). Sold as is, never restored nor cleaned. No lack. Very good condition considering the venerable age.

A pair of circular make-up boxes in nashi-ji lacquer adorned with a floral pattern and an aoi go mon motif (three mallow leaves in a ring) on the lid. This motif is well-known for being the mon (family crest) of the famous dynasty of the Tokugawa shoguns. The bottom of the lid and the top of the box are lined with silver...

Japanese lacquered gold and silver hira maki-e biwa shape box (kobako).

Japan, Edo period

Length 7,67 in – Width 3,14 in – Heigth 0,7 in

The biwa is a japanese short-necked fretted luth, often used in narrative storrytelling. The biwa is chosen instrument of Benten, goddess of music, eloquence and poetry.

Fan-shaped kobako in lacquer. The kobako is decorated with autumn plants on sequined silver and gold. The inside and the circumference are in nashi-ji lacquer.

Kobako (“little boxes”) are often adorned with harmonious decors and sceneries inspired by Japanese fauna and flora. Japanese artists play with shapes and materials with accuracy and thoroughness akin to silverware.

Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)

Length 3.75 in (9,5 cm) – Height 1.6 in ...