Fine gold Japanese lacquer Kobako.

L34

An extremely fine Ko-bako in the shape of two overlapping square boxes. One with a rich kinji ground decorated in hiramakie, and hirame, with kikumon and kirimon, the latter enriched with hirame, the other decorated with sudare, oikake-kammuri, and aoi leaves on a gyobu ground, the nashiji interior containing a fitted tray decorated with an Imperial ox-cart, and cherry trees, in hiramakie on a kinji ground within a gyobu and kikumon border. In kiri wood box.

Japan, 19th century
Dimensions: 10.5cm x 9.2cm x 6.5cm.
Signed: Unsigned.
Provenance: Sotheby's 1981

The exceptional quality of this box, and the absence of a signature, suggests that it may have been made to order for a wealthy merchant or a member of a noble family.