An Inlaid Lacquered-Rattan Ryoshibako (Document Box)

The rectangular box with a domed irobuta (flush-fitting lid) decorated in relief inlays of black lacquer and, tsuishu (carved red lacquer) with a bold design, depicting an old Chinese ink cake carved on the edges with simulated chips enclosing a crane in flight, beside an octagonal studded Chinese mirror carved with three monks, two playing with a yakko-dako (footman-shaped kite), the third playing with a temari (silk brocade ball), all reserved on a tightly-woven rattan reddish-brown ground, the interior of rich nashiji, the outside edges of the lid and cover embellished in gold hiramaki-e with repeated half-blossoms on a roiro-nuri ground, the sides of the box fitted with gilt-bronze cord-ring attachments in the form of cherry blossoms to accommodate the purple silk cords, unsigned.

Estimate:£1,000

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