THREE JAPANESE INLAID-SILVER BOXES AND COVERS

THREE JAPANESE INLAID-SILVER BOXES AND COVERS
MEIJI/TAISHŌ, 20TH CENTURY

All three of rectangular shape and decorated with birds, with details highlighted in gilt; one box with an inscription inside reading 'Presented by Major W.S. Nathan, Tokyo, December 20. 1915.'; another marked Kagemitsu tō, ginsei and Miyamoto sei for the Miyamoto Shoko company; and the third possibly signed Terumitsu koku and with a ginsei silver mark, 5.7cm x 14.2cm x 10.8cm max. (6)

Provenance: the inscribed box originally from Major Walter Simeon Nathan (1867–1939), who was a British officer in the Royal Engineers and a prominent businessman in East Asia during the early 20th century. In 1915, Major Nathan was in Tokyo working as the General Manager of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company.

WITHOUT RESERVE