Japanese Silver Cigarette Case with Flower Cart Etching

This lovely silver box exemplifies Japanese refinement in all crafts. The petite bonbonnière is formed of high quality silver with a rectangular cartouche form and a removable lid. T...

This lovely silver box exemplifies Japanese refinement in all crafts. Precious in the hand, the petite bonbonnière is formed of high quality silver in the shape of a paper folding fa...

This three-tiered container is a 19th-century white brass incense clock, once used as a relatively accurate method to mark the passage of time. Incense c...

For one short decade, from around 1910 to 1920, pewter was all the rage in China’s bustling commercial centers of Shanghai and Canton. Drawn to pewter’s soft, silvery glow, artists t...

A fine antique 20th century Japanese Amita Damascene Steel Box. Made of damascened steel inlaid with gold & silver. The lid of the box has gilt depictions of bamboo plants, while the sides of the boxes have similar depictions of river plants and birds. The interior of the box is fully gilt, and the lid’s interior is decorated with an embossed depiction of a Japanese doll of a girl in kimono amongst branches, leaves, and flowers. Marked to the bottom of the box for ‘W.E. Knox’ and with a Shimazu Mon...

A fine Japanese cloisonne hinged box with pheasant and autumn foliage, by Inaba Nanaho and the Inaba Cloisonne Company, Meiji period, circa 1900, ...

A fine pair of Korean iron box with intricate silver inlays dated to the late Joseon Dynasty circa 19th century. The matching circular boxes was most likely used to store tobacco lea...

A fine Korean iron box that was traditionally used to store tobacco leaves dated to the late Joseon Dynasty circa 19th century. The box is made from iron and has a heavy weight, although the wears along the edges of the lid and base exposes a bronze metal color underneath, indicating the iron metal may contains a high level of copper. The surface was beautifully decorated with elaborate silver inlay that covers the entire surface except the base. The extraordinary workmanship depicts a pair of deer within the circled square (shape of heaven and earth) and a lined background on the long sides and a crane with spread wings on the shorter sides. Both animals were associated with longevity. Their eyes were highlighted with copper inlay, adding a lively touch to the animation. The lid is centered with a Chinese character "Xi" (Paired-Hui in Korean), which means double happiness. (In Chinese culture, it is often used in a wedding ceremony). The large symbol was set on geometrical background of tightly scrolling diamond pattern surrounded by stylized Ruyi mushroom heads, another floral longevity symbol. Archaic fret cloud band borders the entire perimeters of the lid and the container. Tobacco was introduced to Korean in the first half of the 17th century and gradually gained popularity. When the tobacco was started being smoked in shredded form instead of rolled leaves, there rose the production of the smoking accessories, with some in fine quality as luxury items for the elite. The accoutrement such as this box is a fine example made in late Joseon dynasty, using extensive silver inlay, a technique called "jjoeum-ipsa", in which the silver wires were hammered into the scorched iron surface to create the elaborate design. Similar boxes with variation of shape and motifs are in the collection of several major museums. Compare the box with item Gu 754 in the National Museum of Korea; item 22.78 in MET NYC and M.240:1, 2-1926 in V& A Museum in London. The most closely related example we found is item C232 in the collection of the Museum of East Asian Art...