Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

Japanese Lacquer Box with Fine Maki-e Decoration Meiji Period

$4,500
£3,435.73
€3,969.96
CA$6,317.15
A$7,041.12
CHF 3,694.23
MX$85,983.55
NOK 46,777.03
SEK 44,211.41
DKK 29,629.51

About the Item

A lacquered wood box with lid from Japan circa 19th century Meiji Period. The finely decorated box was used to store paper slips and small documents on the desk. It is overall finished with black lacquer (kuro) with sparse Mura-Nashiji effect outside and on the top surface of the lid, there are three Komainu, (sometimes known as Shishi or Japanese lions) frolicking and forming a circle in lively motion. Komainu are auspicious animals in Japanese cultures in both Shinto and Buddhism tradition. Originally from China, these animals symbolizes guardians to ward off evil spirits. Hiramaki-e was used in combination with carving and combing to render the lions with various surface textures. A gilt border with an slight angle was given to the lid and even the thin band is decorated with miniature floral scrolls. The interior of the box was finished in a dense nashiji. Underneath the lid, a cluster of peonies open lavishly by two gentle mounts. Takamaki-e (high relief) in both gold and silver were used to depicts the plants. Gold kirigane was used on the mount. The overall effect is a masterful work full of details and visually striking.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 2 in (5.08 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 9.8 in (24.9 cm)
  • Style:
    Japonisme (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    19th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor wear on the corner, interior and base expected from the age, two small nicks on the inner edge of the lid as shown. Possible small lost of gilt on the stem of one peony. All shown in the detail photos.
  • Seller Location:
    Atlanta, GA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU945020831852

More From This Seller

View All
Japanese Rinpa Style Lacquer Box Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A black lacquer tebako (hand box) with maki-e decoration and silver trim, circa late 19th century, Meiji period. The surface of the lid features a Rinpa style maki-e paint depicting ...
Category

Antique 1890s Japanese Japonisme Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Antique Japanese Lacquer and Inlay Box from Ryukyu Island
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lacquer presentation box with mother-of-pearl inlays from Japanese Ryukyu Islands circa 17-18th century. The lidded box in rectangular form with rounded corner is a classic example...
Category

Antique 18th Century Japanese Japonisme Lacquer

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer

Vintage Korean Lacquer Box with Inner Tray and MOP inlays
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lovely vintage Korean lacquer box in bright red and decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays circa 1970-80s. The square form box features an auspicio...
Category

Late 20th Century Korean Arts and Crafts Lacquer

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer

Japanese Lacquer Ryoshibako Document Box Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Japanese lacquer box with elaborate Maki-e design from Meiji period, (mid-late 19th century). The generous size of the box was reser...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Maki-e Lacquer Tray Box with Cutout Design
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese lacquer box with lid and an inner tray decorated with Maki-e on a dense nashiji background. The fine box was likely made circa 1920-30s...
Category

Vintage 1920s Japanese Taisho Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Rinpa Style Lacquer Ink Stone Box Suzuribako
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese writing box with ink stone (known as Suzuribako) with exquisite maki-e decoration circa late Meiji to early Taisho period (1890s-1930s)...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

You May Also Like

Japanese Meiji Period Antique Lacquer Box with Gold Maki-e Decoration
Located in New York, NY
A fine antique Japanese Meji Period lacquer box decorated with a fan and a stylized star shaped window in the maki-e technique. The fan at the top right corner, fully opened depictin...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Lacquer

Materials

Lacquer

A Maki-e Lacquer Tebako Box Embellished With Gold Decorations
Located in Milano, IT
Tebako lacquer maki-e box embellished with gold decorations depicting a Buddhist temple surrounded by majestic Matsu pines. The interior and base are finished in nashiji lacquer. The...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Lacquer

Materials

Lacquer

Superb Japanese Black Lacquer Document Box with Gold Maki e Design, Meiji Period
Located in Prahran, Victoria
An antique black lacquer document box with an exquisitely detailed, finely wrought design from The Tale of the Genji depicted in gold maki e across the lid. Internally, the box is de...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Tagasode (Whose Sleeves?) Lacquer Incense Box, Kobako, Meiji Period
Located in Austin, TX
A fine and unusual Japanese lacquer box for incense accessories, kobako, featuring a tagasode (whose sleeves?) design, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan. The exquisite box of simple rectangular shape worked in maki-e lacquer, taka-maki-e, and raden, all against a lush ground of gold nashiji. Fitted with silver rims. The main decorative element of the box depicts a six panel folding screen, byobu, showing an interior scene with kimono strewn over a rack, a motif known as tagasode (whose sleeves), all in raised taka-maki-e lacquer and inlaid raden. The screen depicts an intimate room with tatami mats on the floor and sliding shoji doors in the background. The foreground depicts a large clothing...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Lacquer

Materials

Silver

Large Japanese Lacquer Document Box, Ryoshibako, Edo/Meiji period, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A large and magnificently decorated Japanese lacquer document box, ryoshibako, signed Umeboshi/Baikyo, late Edo or early Meiji Period, mid 19th century, Japan. The large document box, ryoshibako, of tall, rectangular shape with rounded corners, and fitted with an inrobuta (flush-fitting) cover with beveled edges. The exterior of this exquisite box is decorated all over with fifteen different raised reserves shaped as uchiwa (paddle) fans against a lush and intricate krikane ground imitating shagreen. The uchiwa shaped reserves all of takamaki-e, and exquisitely painted with designs of animals, flowers, and landscapes in silver, gold, maki-e, hiramaki-e, and takamaki-e, with kirikane, nashiji, and polychrome embellishments, upon gold lacquer fudame grounds. The interior of the lid is nothing short of spectacular, featuring a large design of a magnificent and beautifully detailed rooster and hen with chicks gathered around a lazy stream. Large stalks of chrysanthemum bloom behind them. All against an ethereal nashiji ground. The cover of the box features five reserves: 1. Three minogame (turtles with long tails), symbolizing longevity 2. "Narihira Crossing the Sumida" from The Tales of Ise...
Category

Antique 1860s Japanese Meiji Lacquer

Materials

Softwood, Lacquer

Japanese Gilt Lacquer Covered Sweet Meat Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Japanese Gilt Lacquer Covered Sweet Meat Box Meiji Period. The circular box decorated with a raised evergreen tree before a pavilion, opening to multip...
Category

20th Century Antiquities

Materials

Giltwood