A JAPANESE GOLD LACQUER BOX AND COVER

A JAPANESE GOLD LACQUER BOX AND COVER
EDO OR MEIJI, 19TH CENTURY

Shaped as a takarabune, the treasure boat depicted afloat and surrounded by a sedge of cranes in flight; the sail elaborately decorated with a variety of complex brocade patterns including asa-no-ha and shippo-tsunagi; the boat laden with auspicious objects and attributes of the Shichifukujin (Seven Gods of Good Fortune) such as Daikoku's mallet; all rendered in rich gold takamaki-e, kirikane, kinji and hiramaki-e lacquer; the interior embellished in nashiji, 11.5cm x 17.8cm. (2)

See the Rijskmuseum, Amsterdam, access. no.AK-MAK-889 for another takarabune-shaped gold lacquer box.