Japanese Lacquer Tray

Hailing from illustrious Meiji-period Japan, this lacquer tray showcases the mastery of Japanese craftsmen. Precious materials are precisely inlaid in the lacquer base, creating an a...

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...

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...

This exquisite Meiji-period lacquer document box known as a ryoshibako showcases the meticulous artistry of maki-e, a technique of raised lacquer decoration. Adorned with gold and vi...

This intriguing Chinese zhadou is intricately carved of fine cinnabar lacquer. A work of exceptional artistry, this covered bowl is adorned with an intricately carved floral motif on all surfaces, including the cover and the wide rim. Also known as a cuspidor or spittoon, this rare container would have been used by members of the imperial family and scholar- officials at the court. Carved during the Kangxi period (1662-1722), this charming piece exhibits the high detail and charm associated with items from that period, making it a true treasure, Early 18th century (Kangxi dynasty) Measures: 6 ¼” wide x 3 ¼” high Cinnabar has been revered for its color all over the world. It has been found in the royal burial chambers of the Mayas, in the rituals of India, and in the ruins of ancient Greece and Rome. In China, cinnabar and gold were the two most important elements in alchemy. Mined since the Neolithic Age, cinnabar is the ore of mercury, and as such, it can be incredibly toxic, especially when mining. In fact, during the Roman Empire, miners at Spain’s Almadén mine in Spain were frequently exposed to mercury fumes, and the subsequent, often fatal, sickness was considered an occupational hazard. The most popular known use of cinnabar is in Chinese carved lacquer-ware, a technique that is believed to have originated in the Song Dynasty, in which cinnabar is ground to a powder and added to clear lacquer. As with mining, there was inherent danger of mercury poisoning for those who carved the lacquer, as mercury was also released into the air when artisans ground the pigments. Most antique cinnabar...

Complete with a lacquered surface and original silk straps, this Japanese Edo-period traveling hat, or jingasa, first emerged during the illustrious period between 1603 and 1868, a t...

Japanese inlaid, lacquered and gilded tray. Possibly for the sacred tea ceremony. This tray has beautiful geometric inlays with a gilded edge and a bla...

A large square lacquer presentation tray (likely for kimono) predated 1950 of the Showa period. Elaborately decorated with Maki-e that depicts the prunus blossom, bamboo and needle p...

Antique Negoro lacquer wares were produced at the Negoro-ji temple complex in Izumi Province. The red layers of lacquer on Negoro wares are intended to ...

A large rectangular tray with scalloped corners and slightly raised gallery rim circa late 19th century to early 20th century (end of Meiji period). The center image showcases a live...

Vintage Urushi red lacquer tray with six stemmed cups - each cup gilt decorated with a different floral, leaf or bamboo specimen - the tray gilt decorated wit...

After a period of excess under the shogun, traditional aesthetics of the tea ceremony returned to the classic roots of simplicity and tranquility during the Meiji period. This darkly...