A JAPANESE DOUBLE-SIDED LEATHER TABAKO-IRE (TOBACCO POUCH)

A JAPANESE DOUBLE-SIDED LEATHER TABAKO-IRE (TOBACCO POUCH)

EDO OR MEIJI, 19TH CENTURY

Of rounded rectangular form and with a flap opening on each side, one mae-kanagu in copper modelled as two masks, the other a rectangular shakudo and gilt plaque depicting three friends seated by a fire drinking sake, the pouch made of foreign tooled leather, with a malachite ojime and a corozo nut netsuke carved as a laughing face winking, inscribed Masagyoku in a shaped cartouche at the back, the pouch 15cm.