A rare early-18th century Japanese silver tobacco box,

A rare early-18th century Japanese silver tobacco box,
apparently unmarked, Nagasaki, circa 1735, also struck twice with later Dutch duty mark of 1859-1863,
oval form, the border of the hinged cover with four oblong medallions with the text 'Japan', 'Op.het', 'Eyland', and 'Decima' against matted ground, and with cherry-blossom decoration, and with two birds, the centre with a circular medallion with crowned text 'SL:H,X, Ao.1735', within a laurel wreath, the sides engraved with scrolling leaves, the border of the base again with four oblong medallions with the text 'TEN', 'COMPI', 'NANGA', 'SACKI', with similar decoration with a pagoda and building, the interior gilded, length 12cm, approx. weight 5.7oz.

Provenance: A Private Collection.
Purchased from Christie's, Amsterdam, The European Noble House Sale, 10 December 2003, lot 554.
The Property of a Gentleman
Jonkheer F. de Casembrooot (1815-1895), and thence by descent

The tobacco box was donated in 1859 to the Jonkheer F. de Casembroot (1817-1895). He was a naval officer who fought the people of Atjeh in 1840. He worked in the East and West Indies and was made aide-de-camp to the naval secretary in 1850. From 1858 he was in command of several ships until 1866 when he became involved in Dutch politics. He died in the Hague on the 14th of April 1895.