4 lacquered wood panels inlaid with metals and mother-of-pearl. Very old Japanese work. Decoration of rocks boldly drawn with power but elegance, decorated with plants. Whoever has painted such a high quality drawing is an excellent artist, certainly one of the best of his time...

Namban style chest with a semi-cylindrical lid made of black lacquered wood (urushi) with gold lacquer (maki-e) and inlaid with mother-of-pearl (raden).
Decorated with three main bands of floral motifs, middle surrounded by vertical bands of mother-of-pearl inlaid lozenges and framed by the hanashippô pattern (overlapping circles forming petals).
On the lied, acer (momiji) and plum tree flowers (ume)...

Black and gold lacquer suzuribako (writing set) in takamaki-e on a nashi-ji background representing two tigers near rocks, bamboos and plum blossoms in a night landscape. Inside of the lid with a lake landscape.

The interior of the suzuribako is composed with an inkstone, topped by a copper water bucket in the shape of a chrysanthemum on the left side, with a brush and a small knife...

Two big eight-sided kaioke boxes in black lacquer, decorated with mon and maple leaves in golden lacquer.

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Height: 17,6 in (44,7 cm) -Width : 14,9 in (38 cm)

Small namban style chest with a semi-cylindrical lid made of black lacquered wood (urushi) with gold lacquer (maki-e) and inlaid with mother-of-pearl (raden).
Mon style decoration (family emblem) of ginkos and chrysanthemums framed by friezes alternating three grooves and mother-of-pearl inlays...

Rare box with 3 compartments in lacquered wood from the beginning of the Edo period, end of the 17th century, beginning of the 18th. Decor of chrysanthemums in a landscape. Some flowers are encrusted in solid gold. The decoration is in lacquer in light relief powdered with gold and silver on a nashiji background. Details in Kirikane. The silver is strongly oxidized and has turned greyish-black as on all very old lacquers of this period...

A Japanese gold lacquer Inro with five compartments. A relief of a pair of silver horses dominates the landscape scene of a seaside village with drying racks of fish and pines and clouds in the background. The horses are galloping over a creek with foliage. The reverse side shows a lone horse under a fruit tree and thatched cottage. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). The cord has an agate ojime...

Suzuribako (writing box) in lacquer decorated with clematises and kakis trees in black and gold lacquer and kirigane lacquer on a nashi-ji background. This suzuribako is composed of an ink rock, a small water pot and two side compartments in nashi-ji lacquer. Several mon in shape of fans are also present.

Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)

Depth: 2” - 5cm
Length: 9.4” - 24 cm
Width: 8.6” - 22 cm

Japanese inkstand (suzuribako) in lacquer (urushi). Decor on a spangled background (nashiji) of a lakeside mountainous landscape treated in relief (takamaki-e) flat silver powdered details (hiramaki-e) and mosaic (kirikane ) gold and silver. The rocks are particularly well treated. The interior is decorated with a rich nashiji background forming scrolls of mist and flowers in relief. The suzuribako is complete with its original simple and gilded copper stone and dropper...

Antique Japanese lacquer suzuribako decorated with a pair of deer in raden (shell inlay) and lead on a black lacquer ground. The box opens to reveal a writing set including a lacquered copper rectangular water dropper, an ink stone with brush rests on either side against a background of black lacquer with Rinpa style gold maki-e designs of curling plant fronds.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" long x 9 1/2" wide x 3 1/4" high

Eight lobed inlayed Japanese lacquered dish. Each lobe is decorated in makie, the flora and fauna of the four seasons with archaic designs set in between. The central area of the dish is depicting a female figure holding a lotus with a child attendant holding a bouquet of lotuses. The bottom is crafted in the nashiji style with a signature set in a medallion motif reading: Kaneko Zo, or Produced by Kaneko. Age: Meiji Period Size: Diameter 8.25" Height 1.5"

Extremely rare Sage jubako in wood covered with basketry applied with flowers and plants in lacquer, gesso, mother-of-pearl and pewter (or lead). The box is composed of several stacked parts. The interior is lacquered in red. In the top compartment there are two Chinese characters which are perhaps an artist's signature. Underneath one can see the weft of a strong lacquered fabric ensuring a good solidity...

Rare lacquer box with nashiji background. Gold lacquer decoration in relief of pavilions in a lake landscape. Kirikane gold and silver, pine needles in yellow metal inlaid in high relief blackened by oxidation and dirt. Early Edo period, late 17°or earlier. Inside there is a tray. 18 x 10 x 8cm. A broken and badly glued interior edge (visible on photo). Sold as is, never restored nor cleaned. No lack. Very good condition considering the venerable age.

Gorgeous Japanese lacquer box with allover gilt lacquer designs over black lacquer backgrounds with gold flakes. The front has two drawers with a crane flying beside a pine tree in lacquer. The top opens into two compartments with hinged lids decorated with a phoenix and a cherry tree. Panels of floral scenes with lucky motifs decorate the sides. Signed tomobako included. Dates from the Meiji period 1868-1912. Size: 6.25" H x 11" W x 10.5" D

Box (kobako) in lacquer (urushi) powdered with gold (kinji) decoration in relief (takamaki-e) of the 3 friends (plum tree, pine and bamboo) on a mountain (perhaps Mount Horaï of the immortals?) The mountain is lacquered in red under the gold powder, revealing scarlet shades depending on the orientation of the light...

Antique Japanese rectangular box decorated with gold and silver dragonflies on a black lacquer ground. The lid is fastened on by a green chord. Inside is a removable tray lacquered with gold and silver crickets in wisps of golden grass. This box comes in a cedar tomobako.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 5 1/8" high x 7 3/4" long x 5 1/2" wide

Box (Kobako) in lacquered wood powdered with gold (nashiji) decoration representing Daruma (with cut eyelids), face in red lacquer (cinnabar), eyebrows in silver powder and transparent eyes (crystal, glass or mica?). Daruma stands in front of a circular opening in old cracked walls. Its silhouette stands out against a background of rich kinji lacquer...

Small Japanese antique jewelry box, decorated all over with scenes of tiny chrysanthemums made of gold and silver mixed metal inlay on a gold lacquer (kinji) ground. The tiny safe box door is hinged and opens to reveal a scene of a golden bird on a blossoming plum branch near a fence. This scene spans both the interior of the door and three tiny interior drawers. The blossoms are made of gold and silver lacquer and the ground is a lovely dense and fine nishiji (gold flecks). Each drawer is...

Suzuribako - Important model of urushi lacquer writing case from Japan, offering a rich decoration of a Kabuto and a sand on the top of the lid, on a hirameji lacquer background. Gold and silver lacquer with rare finesse of decoration. The interior offers a particularly remarkable scene, of two deer in autumn foliage. Takamaki-e and hiramaki-e. Dimensions: 4.6 cm x 21.3 cm x 23 cm. Japan Edo (1603-1868) early 18th century.

Exceptional example of a very old Japanese bronze. This type of lacquered bronze of the best quality is extremely rare. We only know a handful. This is the Mule of Toba in cast bronze, lacquered in red and cream. The animal is represented lowering its head. His rider, Toba has disappeared. Note the elegance of the movement, the strength but also the humor that emerges from this sculpture, this is the unique work of a great sculptor. Having no known reference dated with certainty, it is impossibl...

Black and gold lacquer sageju-baco (picnic box) decorated with floral motifs in hiramaki-e. It includes a sake bottle, a four-compartment box with nashi-ji lacquer inside, a simple tray and a hollow tray. At the top, there is a bronze handle for transport.

The sageju-bako is divided into four superimposed boxes for food on the left; a simple tray, a sake bottle and a hollow tray on the right. They are in the shape of a plum blossom.
On the top, on both sides a phoenix. The ph...

Small box of drawers in gold and silver lacquer background imitating tortoise shell. The decor is composed of volutes and phoenixes in light relief (Taka Maki-e) of gold and silver powders, mosaic detail of inlaid solid gold and silver tiny squares (kirikane). By transparency one distinguishes under the tortoiseshell the reflections of gold leaf. The fittings are finely chiseled with volutes. There is one phoénix by panels, inside some Mon are on the drawers. Difficult to date with exactitude...

Antique Japanese small kobako (incense box) with inside tray. The outside is decorated with a scene of a garden fence, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas and daisies in gold lacquer on a nashiji ground. The interior is covered in fine nashiji. The small tray stands on tiny feet and has a pavilion scene with twisted pines all in gold lacquer on a matching nashiji ground.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4" high x 6" wide x 4" deep.

Rare japanese urushi lacquer box of a calabash shape. Beautiful Hoteï sleeping on his bag on a black ground. Nashiji lacquer inside with two figthers. A rare border of checkerboard and mother of pearl inlays.

Antique Japanese suzuki-bako, calligraphy box. Lacquered with a profusion of wildflowers in gold maki-e technique on black lacquer ground. The underside of the lid is beautifully preserved with more wild flowers growing near a swirling stream. This scene is also rendered in maki-e but includes some flashes of red leaves and a silvery moon on a black lacquer ground with clouds of nashiji. The inside of the box has more fine nashiji clouds on a black ground and contains an ink stone and a cop...

Large and wide tray, in Japanese lacquer, black, gold and silver according to the techniques of hiramaki-e and takamaki-e. It offers a setting of two large rabbits in autumn grass looking at the sky, under a large silver crescent moon, on a black background. Length: 66cm x Width: 44cm. With a base. Japan Edo (1603-1868) 19th Century

Small gold lacquer tray, magnificent example of kirikane and multiple lacquer technical and multiple lacquering techniques. Absolutely exceptional quality, very rarely encountered. Presence of small details in mother of pearl. I think it must have been part of a set, most probably inside a box? But it is possible that it was created alone. Perfect state of conservation. Difficult to date exactly, I would say around 1800. Dimensions 105x80mm.

Pair of Japanese Lacquered jubako or tiered box used for placing sweets inside. The box is decorated with motif of waves done in mother of pearl. The lid and the side of the boxes contain images of prunus done in hira-makie. The jubako was done in the Ryukyu Islands where the motifs contain influences from Japan, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Age: Mid-Edo Period (Circa 1700) Size: (per box) height 18.75" width 11.25" length 13.75"

Lacquered wooden box inlaid with gold, silver and mother-of-pearl mosaic, typical work of the famous Somada family of Japanese lacquerers. The box is made up of two superimposed parts which are partially covered by a surprisingly openwork lid, largely revealing the sides. Inside there is a small tray. The preciousness of this box is matched only by its fragility; however, it is in a perfect state of conservation, which is exceptional. there is no artist signature, the Somada family very rarely s...

Japanese Jubako, traditional stacked lacquerware food boxes, represent not only culinary refinement but also an important aspect of Japanese food culture. These elegantly tiered containers, often adorned with intricate designs and vibrant colors, are integral to the presentation of special occasion meals such as New Year’s celebrations and formal picnics. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, Jubako boxes like the one featured here showcase the artistry of Japanese lacquerwa...

This is one of the more intriguing lacquer objects we have owned. Adorned with maki-e Aoe (hollyhock) Ka-mon on nashiji ground (also known as the Kamo Aoi as it was sacred to the Kamo shrine), family crest for prominent daimyo families including the Tokugawa and the Matsudaira during the Momoyama and Edo periods. Even the drawer pull is fashioned as an open worked shibuichi Aoe Ka-mon with the surprise of a textured, kinko (soft metal) raised backing only if you look for it. More interesting yet...

Cabinet in black lacquered wood. Decor of plants in gilding and mother-of-pearl inlay. The mounts are incised and gilded copper. Two doors conceal a series of drawers and a small door. The small handles of the drawers are in cast bronze as well as the handles. On the top is represented in mother-of-pearl Mount Fuji partly concealed by clouds. This type of lacquer called "Namban" was manufactured in Japan for export at the beginning of the 17th century, either at the end of Momoyama or at the ver...

Kodansu in gold lacquer and mother of pearl, with silver hinges and decorated with naturalistic motifs. The surface is covered with a delicate and shiny golden lacquer on a nashiji background which gives the box set brilliance. Decoration with naturalistic motifs in lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlays depicting stylized peonies and phoenixes in flight, creating an evocative contrast of colors and a fascinating texture. The inside of the kodansu hides three drawers decorated with silver kno...

Kobako in the rock shape in gold lacquer fundame. The interior and underside of the kobako are in nashi-ji lacquer. The cover is decorated in hiramaki-e with a mountainous landscape on a gold background. A river crosses the mountains, bordered by pines, rocks and thatched cottages. Leaves and flowers enhanced with red adorn the sides.

Kobakos (“little boxes”) are often adorned with harmonious decors and sceneries inspired by Japanese fauna and flora. Japanese artists play with ...

19th Century Meiji Period Black and Gold Lacquer Box. Features a stunning design of wonderful lacquer techniques. Though large it is very delicate in its presentation of leaves, flowers and branches. 13.75w x 11d x 6h inches, 35w x 28d x 15h cm.