East Asian Decorative Boxes

Antique Japanese Box scripture 1860s-1920s

At the first glance, this looks like an art piece done by a modern abstract artist - with the layers of random, thicker paint on it. But the truth is, this small box chest of drawers...

Japanese Kobako Yosegi Zaiku marquetry roll-top box A Japanese Kobako box, small and very light box with a roll-top door. A box, designed with beautiful Yosegi Zaiku inlay work (marquetry). Made in the Hakone region Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku is a type of traditional Japanese inlay...

A charming and uncommon antique brass thimble case, beautifully formed in a smooth oval silhouette with a warm, time-earned patina. This petite hinged container features delicate han...

This elegant container is a 19th-century Chinese document box, once used by a Qing-dynasty scholar-official to store stationery accessories such as brushes, seals and ink sticks. Cra...

Antique Two Cylinder Shape Chinese Carved Gilt Lacquered Boxes with colors applied. There is a chip on the lid of the large one, please see the photos.  Size: 1. Large: 5.5" Dia x 5....

Chinese foliage painted and brass mounted tacked hinged chest on stand with flanking side handles and interior lock with key, Late 19th Century

This rare and highly decorative 1930s Art Deco Takita porcelain lidded box is an exceptional example of Japanese Art Deco ceramic design, a category that remains far more elusive than its European and American counterparts. Versatile in form, the piece functions beautifully as a biscuit jar, tea caddy, ice bucket, or sculptural decorative container, making it both practical and collectable. The box is cylindrical and lantern-shaped, modeled after an accordion-pleated Asian paper lantern, giving it strong architectural presence and rhythmic geometry. The porcelain body is painted in a vibrant zig-zag pattern rendered in pastel pink, blue, and yellow against a crisp white ground. The lantern creases are dramatically emphasized with black horizontal accent lines, heightening contrast and reinforcing the bold, modernist Art Deco aesthetic. The removable lid features an asymmetrically placed gilt porcelain knob, a classic Art Deco touch that introduces tension and movement to the design. A woven rattan handle, secured by gilt porcelain mounts on either side, moves freely and adds a sophisticated material contrast, blending natural texture with gleaming glazed porcelain. The interior is clean and well preserved, with no chips or cracks to the interior, lid lip, or body rim. There is one chip to the base, measuring approximately 3/8 inch wide, which does not affect the visual presentation or functionality. The base is stamped “T/T Hand Paint Made in Japan.” While collectors are well acquainted with French Art Deco porcelain and ceramics by celebrated makers such as Robj, Lalique, Sèvres, and Limoges, as well as Czechoslovakian Art Deco manufacturers like Ditmar Urbach, Amphora, and Royal Dux, Japanese Art Deco porcelain...

An antique Japanese enameled wooden box. Late Meiji period, before 1912. The box has a rectangular shape with a black border. The lid features a cloisonne enamel design with traditio...

Antique A Chinese Carved Gilt Lacquered Box depicting a Dragon, Clouds, and waves, and all areas of carved patterns throughout. small lacquer colors were lost at the corner and botto...

A pair of Japanese lacquered lidded Hokai boxes with chased brass hardware and original ropes. Hokai boxes are traditionally used in Japan as the containers ...

This is a solid brass ornately decorated Chinese made trinket box. This trinket box has four medallions on each corner of the top with a center medallion that has a carved jade inset...

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...

A Japanese four-case lacquer inro by a member of Kajikawa family circa 19th century (late Edo to early Meiji period). It depicts a nocturnal scenery of a meandering stream surrounded by bush clovers, where a full moon is reflected on the water. It was masterfully decorated in gold and silver maki-e using a combination of techniques including takamakie, togidashi and kirigane as well as aogai (abalone shell) inlays. The stream was set between the slightly elevated banks, adding to this piece a already strong three-dimensional composition. The interior was decorated in gold nashiji. It was signed on the bottom "Kajikawa Zou" (made by Kajikawa and a pot seal centered with "Ei" in Kanji. In one of the compartment, there is a katakana mark, appears to be a name, possibly the owner. Kajikawa clan was one of the most famous lacquer artisanal family established in the 17th century. Many well known members over the generations produced lacquer art in a wide range of formats, but two third were signed only with the family name such as this one. It is therefore not possible to pinpoint the exact author of this piece. Provenance: This inro was purchased as lot 349 in Christie's New York sale Japanese...

Chinese red and black lacquered box with fine brass mounts in the Chinese Export style. Lovely color. A refined and classic decorative box, beautiful craftsmanship. 20 wide 14 deep ...

A Lacquered Japanese writing box with metal detailing, mid 20th century. The box has signs of patina on the metal, a small crack in one corner and...

An antique Japanese late Meiji era covered Totai enamel on porcelain trinket or jewelry box. Circa: late 19th century to early 20th century. The ware is enameled with a polychrome floral medallion with butterflies and berries, on the top of the cover, surrounded by floral, and foliage patterns made in the Cloisonne technique. A hand painted image of a flower, under the cover. Dated, 01.12.08, and probably numbered, 6, on the bottom. Totai Shippo...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage circa 1920's hand painted and lacquered oriental Chinese table chest or jewellery box. A very good looking and well made pie...

Sweet little Chinese export brass box with beautiful floral etched designs, looks like peonies to me. With a lovely white jade top carved in fretwork with a vase framed by the flower...

Antique Chinese bone ebony oval treasure box with lid cover decorated with incized symbol of happiness on top.

Japanese Art Deco Style Trinket Box or Hand-Carved Rosewood Jewelry Box A unique hand-crafted, Japanese wooden box designed in the Art Deco style and of the period. This rare antiqu...

19th century Japanese lacquer box of fish shape.  

Two woven bamboo strip boxes, including one with leather details and geometric decorations, Dimensions: 1. 8.75" W x 4" H x 4" D 2. 5.75" W x 2.75" H x 2" D.  

Large Chinese black lacquered box with numerous figures and gilt detail. Chinese round black lacquer and gilt painted box, made for the expor...

This antique decorative box is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from China, and date to approximately 1920 and done in a period Chinese...

A long Chinese Qing Dynasty period wooden scroll box from the 19th century, with brass hardware. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty period, this un...

This antique Chinese table chest balances rustic charm with refined simplicity. Dated to the early 20th century, the wooden lock box would have been used to store money and valuables...

Japanese vintage small box tansu chest of drawers, Kohikidashi, fully made of Kiri (Paulownia). Refinished by seller with traditional black Urushi ...

Tebako box with three compartments in golden and nashi-ji lacquer, decorated with golden, red, and kirigane lacquer, golden persimmon tree leaves, among rocks. The compartments are of increasing size from the top. The decoration is in continuity. Persimmon has been cultivated in southern China for more than 2500 years and is believed to have been introduced to Japan in the 8th century. The veneer is a tree with very hard wood, similar to ebony. According to a legend, one specimen survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, close to the epicenter. It is therefore in Japan a symbol of strength and longevity. It is also the national fruit of the country. It is eaten as a traditional dish during New Year's Day celebrations. Tebako literally means "portable box...

Large Chinoiserie Rectangular Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1950s. Large Chinese black lacquered box with numerous figures and gilt detail. Chinese rectangular black lacquer and gilt painted box, made for the export market. The rectangular large black lacquer box is decorated with beautiful gilt painting. the Upper portion opens revealing a lacquer tray. The lid of the box hand painted in the shanshui style, with an idyllic river and mountain, Chinoiserie style landscape with architectural Asian decor, landscape figures of women in traditional kimonos, young boys playing near a river. The landscape studded with trees and vegetation, and some small pagodas...

This is the Japanese lunch boxes. Traditionally, Osechi (a special kind of food for the new year) is served with this kind of lunch boxes called 'JY...

This remarkable and highly decorative Japanese export large writing box is a rare high quality example with a complicated and intricate interior. The box is in very good condition c...

A small Chinoiserie ceramic decorative box with a lid. Rectangular in shape, this box features a hand-painted floral motif on the top of the lid as w...

This is an antique Japanese bento box from Edo era which was used for cherry blossom viewing party. It is made with bamboo and painted with ...

A finely detailed Chinese export lacquered work box, dating to the early 19th century. This rectangular example features a rich red ground adorned with intricate gilt decoration, inc...

Vintage Chinese handcrafted lacquer wood handpainted jewelry box in a shape of sea shells clam.

Circa 1900 Chinese box decorated with green, blue, red and yellow floral design set against a white background. The top with a carved white jade floral medallion. The apple green ena...

Antique Qing Dynasty Blue & White porcelain box with cover - hand painted with the double happiness symbol to the top and meandering vines ...

A fine and unusual Japanese black lacquer and mother of pearl inlaid box, Momoyama Period, 16th century, Japan. The large box and cover featu...

A Japanese black lacquer box with mother of pearl inlays circa early 20th century, end of Meiji period. It was likely to be used to store inkstone or other scholarly items. The piece displays several interesting characteristics that appear puzzling initially. First, the form is not typical Japanese, but more Chinese and Korean, with its scalloped base. Second, the decoration of MOP inlays also suggests a Korean and Chinese affiliation, especially with the linear borders and the scrolling cloud patters on the sides of the box. These two observations suggest that the box may be from Ryukyu Island instead of Japanese mainland. Third, strikingly in the center of the cover, a bold quarterly floral pattern outlined with MOP was filled with a striking mottled red lacquer using tsugaru nuri...

Near pair set of large Chinese carved and embossed red lacquered wooden rectangular presentation boxes with gilt decoration, circa 1910. Beautiful boxes crafted with dovetail joiner...

Antique Chinese Chinoiserie Wooden box with Handpainted inserts. Mother of Pearl decorative buttons. Double sides doors with compartments for small sculptures. Great piece.

This is a very decorative Chinese Export cloisonné lidded box which we date to the 20th century, Circa 1930. The box has a cylindrical shape, with its original lid and is all beauti...

A stunning Japanese Edo period lacquer tanzakubako, box for poem cards, late 18th-early 19th century, Edo Period, Japan. Attributed to the Igarashi School, this box is masterfully ...

A serene 1930s Art Deco powder box featuring a sculpted woman with her head gently tilted upward and eyes closed, embodying the calm, modern femininity celebrated in the era’s design...

Vintage Japanese porcelain vintage trinket boxes with lid, set of 3. Vintage Asian porcelain Japanese trinket boxes with Geishas figures wearing traditional kimonos. Japanese porcelain decorative box, each box with a different design, perfect for storing small items or use them as decorative boxes on a table or shelf. Asian Trinket Box...

Chinese elaborately Relief carved glove box with original hinges and lock, no key, no damage or cracks, 9 ¾” w. x 3 ¾” d x 3” h. Notes: Very good condition  

A Qing Dynasty period Chinese old box from the 19th century with traditional etched brass hardware, metal banding, partially removable top and light patina. Im...

Nice little black lacquer box from Japan. It is made of black lacquered wood and decorated with flowers and foliage. The inside is covered with red velvet. It is ideal for storing je...

Antique A Chinese Carved Gilt Lacquered Box depicting a Dragon and Phoenix, and all areas of carved patterns throughout. small lacquer colors were lost at the corner, please see the ...

A wonderful Chinese leather and brass lidded lacquered trinket box, circa 1970s. The handcrafted box measures 6.25"W x 3.75"D x 4"H and has a great look with tapered brass trim. It...

A highly decorative vintage Chinese red painted stacking picnic box and carrier, painted in the Tibetan style, circa 1990's, China. The large painted and textured wood picnic box and carrier comprised of three trays or boxes, and one lid, all housed in a handled carrier. The red painted boxes and cover stack. A large roundel design of a golden dragon face within a cloud collar...

Large Chinese Export Famille Verte peach motif box, Republic period, exquisite all over decoration with peaches, trees and flowers. Unmarked.

Intricately carved inro in the form of a woven basket. Quality craftsmanship. Opens into two pieces, held together with a rust-red silk string. Made of nat...

Very nice box also used as a pillow in the Japanese culture, early 20th century. It is black lacquered and decorated with hand painted golden floral patterns. The copper latch is nic...

Mid-19th century Japanese Meiji period bronze stamp box. Applied castings of a hanging flower basket with bird, recumbent stag and flowers. Measures: 1 1/...

Perfect Antique Chinese Cloissone Box Qing Period Bronze, 19th/20th Century Great piece of cloisonne. Additional information: Material: Porcelain &...

Red/Black-lacquered Fan-shape Five-case Lunch Box, China, 19th century, with three bamboo splint handles converging to form a broad strap handle over the t...

This simple lacquered box was once used as a 19th-century snack box, presented as a gift during holidays and special occasions. To the delight of the recipients, the unassuming box w...

A Chinese vintage blanket chest from the mid 20th century, with brass hardware. Created in China during the midcentury period, this vintage blank...