Kobako box decorated with stylized foliage in black and gold hiramaki-e lacquer. The motif is karakusa, a growing plant extending in all directions. It symbols prosperity and longevity. Interior is lined with a floral fabric and topped with a pewter border.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 2.5 in / 6.5 cm – width: 3.5 in / 9 cm – depth: 3 in / 7.5 cm

Antique Japanese lacquer suzuri bako (writing box) and matching large stationary box inspired by Korin Ogata of the Rinpa School tradition. The larger box was used for writing paper while the smaller box was used for writing implements. Inside the suzuri bako is an ink stone and a metal water dropper. Both boxes are decorated entirely with a highly raised design of blossoming cherry branches on a gold lacquer ground. Each flower is made of inlaid shell...

Antique Japanese rectangular box decorated with gold and silver dragonflies on a black lacquer ground. The lid is fastened on by a green chord. Inside is a removable tray lacquered with gold and silver crickets in wisps of golden grass. This box comes in a cedar tomobako.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 5 1/8" high x 7 3/4" long x 5 1/2" wide

Antique Japanese makie lacquer suzuri bako (writing box) and matching large stationary box signed with bold signatures on the bottom reading: 光琳　青々Kо̄rin Seisei, an artist name used by Ogata Kōrin (1658 – 1716).
Both boxes have domed lids and are decorated entirely in gold lacquer with highly raised designs of flowers and silver pine branches. The flowers are further embellished with inlaid shell...

Box (kobako) in lacquer (urushi) powdered with gold (kinji) decoration in relief (takamaki-e) of the 3 friends (plum tree, pine and bamboo) on a mountain (perhaps Mount Horaï of the immortals?) The mountain is lacquered in red under the gold powder, revealing scarlet shades depending on the orientation of the light...

Japanese inkstand (suzuribako) in lacquer (urushi). Decor on a spangled background (nashiji) of a lakeside mountainous landscape treated in relief (takamaki-e) flat silver powdered details (hiramaki-e) and mosaic (kirikane ) gold and silver. The rocks are particularly well treated. The interior is decorated with a rich nashiji background forming scrolls of mist and flowers in relief. The suzuribako is complete with its original simple and gilded copper stone and dropper...

Rare box with 3 compartments in lacquered wood from the beginning of the Edo period, end of the 17th century, beginning of the 18th. Decor of chrysanthemums in a landscape. Some flowers are encrusted in solid gold. The decoration is in lacquer in light relief powdered with gold and silver on a nashiji background. Details in Kirikane. The silver is strongly oxidized and has turned greyish-black as on all very old lacquers of this period...

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...

Box (Kobako) in lacquered wood powdered with gold (nashiji) decoration representing Daruma (with cut eyelids), face in red lacquer (cinnabar), eyebrows in silver powder and transparent eyes (crystal, glass or mica?). Daruma stands in front of a circular opening in old cracked walls. Its silhouette stands out against a background of rich kinji lacquer. Daruma wears a meditation robe lacquered in relief (taka-makie) with gold dust...

Inro 4 cases.Peonies in mother-of-pearl inlaid on a brown lacquered ground and gold dust. Japan earlier Edo 17th century.It is rare to find inros from this period, they are probably the first to have been created. The lacquer is dark red-brown, almost black, it is very solid and despite the shocks and more than three centuries of handling it has not chipped at all. The mother-of-pearl is also well preserved and there is only a tiny lack due to a direct impact...

Box and its tray in black lacquered wood decorated with bindweed in gold and silver powdered lacquer. Details of gold squares. Black interior. Nice finish. No signature. Japanese work from the end of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century, Meiji or Showa period. Good condition except for some wear on the corners visible in the photos. No catering.

Antique Japanese suzuribako. Made for holding materials for fine calligraphy writing. The cover of the box is decorated with gold maki-e wild flowers including ferns and daisies with silver details and clouds of gold flakes. The interior of the box holds an ink stone, a copper water dropper and areas for resting brushes all treated with clouds of fine gold nashiji on a black lacquer ground. The underside of the lid is decorated with a scene of a rocky riverbank covered in wild flowers...

Antique Japanese sewing box. Made of lacquered wood and inlaid with painted shells. Intended for export. Beautiful details of colorful pheasants and peony blossoms. There is a separate drop-in tray with many small compartments for sewing tools.

Age: Meiji Period (circa early 1900's)

Dimensions: 5 1/8" high x 15 3/8" wide x 11 1/4" deep (when closed)

Gold lacquer suzuribako (writing set) representing a pine tree in a rocky mass in takamaki-e on a kirigane background.

The inside of the lid and the writing case is decorated with an interlacing of hiramaki-e foliage on a dense nashi-ji background.

Accompanied by its original box with partially identified inscription, "Suzuribako with lid - gold nashi-ji [...]" (金梨地 [1 unidentified kanji]画 [2 unidentified kanji] 硯筥覆).

Japan – Edo era (160...