19th Century Tabakobon Japanese Lacquer

A very fine Japanese maki-e lacquer decorated tabako bon, or smoking box, late Edo Period, mid-19th century, Japan. The elegant smoking box of black lacquer decorated with a wonderful gold lacquer takamaki-e design of a gnarled and elegantly twisted plum tree with branches in full bloom. A border of golden cranes in flight to the top. The smoking box, called a tabako bon, is comprised of an open section at the top with inset with two cylindrical metal canisters...

A rare Japanese export lacquer medical instrument box Edo-period, 1650-1700 L. 19 x W. 6 x H. 8.5 cm This unconventionally shaped lacquer b...

A gorgeous Burmese carved and gold leafed teakwood stand and cover for a kammavaca manuscript, late 18th or early 19th century, Burma. The manuscript chest is heavily rococo influenced, speaking to the French presence in the region at the time. The carved teak stand is formed as a raised platform set upon four large scrolling acanthus leaf feet, with carved flour-de-lis to the apron. The cover for the stand is also carved from teak, and features a series of rectangular cartouches, each set with a red foil backed glass "gem", surrounded by shell inlay, and embellished with green and silver foil backed glass sequins. The top of the cover features the same design motif, with the addition of thayo lacquer design elements, and is strongly reminiscent of Tibetan manuscript...

A Japanese export Nagasaki lacquer tobacco box with the portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte Edo-period, circa 1810 The box in black lacquer on copper, ...

A large Theravada Buddhism scripture book from Burma, circa late 19th century-early 20th century. The book opens to continuous folding pages that is accordion like. Ink scriptures in curvy Burmese language were handwritten on both sides of the pages. The papers are bind by two lacquered wood covers with elaborate design that features relief scrolls and mini mosaic...

The 'ishime' lacquered case consisting of two conforming molded sections with one sliding overtop the other, both sides decorated with hand painted gilt, silver & burnt dark russet (kasshoku) lacquers, depicting motifs in low relief of a rat with an acorn on one side and two acorns on the opposing. In Japanese culture rats are considered auspicious symbols of fertility & wealth, acorns symbolize prosperity & growth. Signed with characters and a mon on one edge. Takamaki-e is a lacquer technique in which metallic powders such as silver, gold, copper, pewter etc., are used in combination with lacquer & clay-dust to build up motifs in low relief. Please note that the color tones & hues of the lacquered motifs appear somewhat more vibrant in the images due to ambient lighting conditions. Regarding the opinion stating the superior quality of this fine example being likened to works associated with those by Shibata...