Large Vintage Japanese Lacquer Document Box, Ryoshibako, Showa Period, Japan

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...

A spectacular Japanese maki-e lacquer lidded box, possibly a writing box, suzuribako, decorated with images of folding fans, ogi, Edo Period, earl...

A fine and impressive Japanese gold maki-e decorated black lacquer five-tier jubako with presentation tray, two lids, and the original tomobako storage box, Meiji period, late 19th c...

A delightful and intricately decorated lacquer box for storing incense, kogo, in the form of a traditional farm house, Meiji period (1864 - 1912), late 19th century, Japan. The kogo, or small box for storing incense, takes the whimsical form of a traditional Japanese home, minka, with the removable high, thatched roof serving as the cover for the box. The exterior of the home has been painstakingly decorated in maki-e lacquer against a matte black lacquer ground. Traditional shoji doors, bamboo blinds...

A fine and elegant Japanese lacquer box for writing implements or stationery, suzuribako, with an image of a Shinto shrine, Edo Period, mid-19th century, circa 1840, Japan. The exqu...

An exceptionally fine and unusual Japanese lacquer writing implements box, suzuribako, in the form of a zither, koto, Edo Period, 18th century, Japan. With a modern wood storage box,...

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...

Showa Period (1926 - 1989) sculpture of a duck resting with its head tucked into its wings. Dry lacquer, or kanshitsu, is a process of layering and manipulating lacquer soaked cloth ...

The artist calls this vessel a flower basket in the calligraphy on the box. Showa period (1926-1989) black lacquer container in square form with notched c...

A Japanese red lacquer cabinet with a design of magnolias on a black background across the two double doors. The surface is textured, with the doors opening to reveal internal shelvi...

A Japanese roiro lacquer scholar combo box with an upper tier of inkstone box (Suzuribako) and a lower document box (Ryoshibako) circa 1910-30s (end of Meiji to Showa period). The high glossy box was beautifully decorated with an image of the famously eccentric Buddhist monks Hanshan and Shide (known in Japan as Kanzan and Jittoku). Often as a pair, they have been a popular motif in Japanese Zen painting...

A high quality, antique, Japanese black lacquer document box. It has an external design of gold maki e plum blossoms. In Japanese culture plum blossom symbolises the beginning of Spring, having its own festival, the Ume Matsuri, alongside the more famous cherry blossom festival...