A LARGE JAPANESE ABALONE 鮑 (AWABI)-SHELL WITH LACQUERED LID, MEIJI PEIROD (1868-1912)

Exceptional and one-of-a-kind large abalone-shell 鮑 (awabi) with a lacquered cover.

The lid is decorated with multi-coloured hiramaki-e 平蒔絵 (low-relief design) depicting various shells and saltwater plants, on a substrate of nashiji 梨子地. Finished with a subtle gold fundame 粉溜地 rim.
The nashiji looks like the sandy underground for the shells that are lying in a bed of seaweed at the beach.
The knob of the cover is build up out of three small natural shells.
The abalone shell has on the inside a beautiful opalescent shine, varying from colours like green – lila – pink – orange and blue. It rests on two small feet, also made of a part of a small natural shell.

Approx. size:
Height 9.5 cm, Width 22 cm, Depth 19.5 cm.

Period: Meiji period (1868-1912).
Including its original wooden tomobako 供箱 (storage container).
It is in a very good original condition. Please look at the photos for a condition reference.