Japanese Lacquered Natsume 'Tea Box'

Natsume in dark red lacquer, decorated with autumn leaves and cherry blossoms in hiramaki-e and nashiji. Interior in black lacquer. Maple leaves (Momiji) are celebrated in literature...

Black and gold lacquer sageju-bako (picnic box) decorated with floral motifs in hiramaki-e. It includes a sake bottle, a four-compartment box with nashi-ji lacquer inside, a simple tray and a hollow tray. At the top, there is a bronze handle for transport. The sageju-bako is divided into four superimposed boxes for food on the left; a simple tray, a sake bottle and a hollow tray on the right. They are in the shape of a plum blossom. On the top, on both sides a phoenix. The phoenix (hôo) has an imperial and solar symbolism. This auspicious bird also embodies virtues taken from the teachings of Confucius (such as goodness, righteousness and wisdom). The left boxes are patterned with turtles, plum tree, bamboo, cherry blossoms, water plantains near rivers. The two trays on the right have a shell and seaweed pattern. The sake bottle is decorated with a plum tree and bamboo. On the sides, calabash decoration. Borders in saya (or sayagata) pattern, composed of Chinese swastikas...

An antique lacquered small box that was likely used to contain incense powder (it is called Kobako in Japanese), circa early to mid-19th century of the Edo...

Exceptional Japanese rectangular gold lacquer tebako (box for personal accessories) with a slightly domed well-fitted lid and raised by four low bracket feet. The lid finely carved with pointed shapes as if it is covered by folded papers. On top of this embossed surface it is decorated with gold and silver hiramaki-e (low-relief design) and takamaki-e (high-relief design) depicting a wild winding river landscape with along the waterfront...