A RARE JAPANESE LACQUER JEWELLERY BOX FOR THE EXPORT MARKET

A RARE JAPANESE LACQUER JEWELLERY BOX FOR THE EXPORT MARKET

EDO PERIOD, C. 1640-90

Of architectural form, the tall rectangular box raised on a shaped plinth and with a hinged cover, the top sliding to reveal a secret compartment; the two small doors to the front concealing six drawers of various sizes; the exterior decorated with shaped panels enclosing various depictions of flowers, figures at rest, houses in lush landscapes and scrolling tendrils, in silver and gold hiramaki-e, takamaki-e and nashiji lacquer on the black roiro ground, with some petals and leaves inlaid in mother of pearl and metal; the inside of the lid revealing a small mirror and a design featuring a pavilion on stilts, with large rocky outcrops beside it and tall trees rendered in hiramaki-e and kirikane; with pilasters to the corners and the metal mounts embellished with flowers, the edges with geometric borders inlaid with mother of pearl, 37.5cm x 27.7cm x 34.5cm.

Cf. O Impey & C Jörg, Japanese Export Lacquer (1580-1850), pp.170-72 where comparable boxes are illustrated and discussed. The authors describe them as jewel boxes in pictorial style.