An oval Japanese export lacquer tray

Kyoto, circa 1680 The writing box has bevelled edges and a kabusebuta (overhanging lid), and is completely covered in black lacquer in maki-e and decorated in gold, silver and red h...

Meiji period, circa 1873-1887 The black lacquered box decorated in maki-e and hiramaki-e gold, with on the lid a European style building complex and several Japanese and European figures walking along a street in the foreground. The sides are finely decorated with several insects and the inside with several compartments and nashiji decoration. H. 7.4 x W. 29 x D. 25.7 cm After the Americans forced Japan to open their harbours to the outside world and take part in international treaty and trade around the mid 19th century, the formerly feudal society rapidly changed. Japan was now focussing on an industrial future. One of the major international ports was Yokohama with its foreign embassies and warehouses - which attracted a great number of visitors of all sorts. For the higher society visiting Japan for the first time a new and ‘Western’ hotel had to be realised; hence the construction of The Grand Hotel on Kaigandori. The hotel was opened on August 16, 1873 (Meiji 6) and was soon considered the height of Western culture and elegance in Japan. The building probably depicted on this box, designed by American architect Richard P. Bridgens (リチャード・ブリジェンス, 1819 -1891), is the original hotel...

A fan shape black lacquer tray from Japan circa 1910-30s, late Meiji to early Showa era. Elaborated decorated with a bundle of yomogi blossom in a very fine Maki-e technique using both gold and silver powders. There is a Japanese symbol on the top left, which represents yomogiu, stemming from yomogi (蓬), a wild plant that belongs to the chrysanthemum family and widely grown in Japan. This name yomogui is from a scene in the Tale of Genji...

This Meiji-period lacquer tray represents the mastery of Japanese craftsmen in the art of lacquer work. Precious materials are precisely inlaid in the lacquer base, creating a highly...