A LARGE JAPANESE RYOSHIBAKO LACQUERED BOX, MEIJI PERIOD (1868-1912)

An exceptional lacquered wooden document box 料紙箱 (ryôshi’bako) featuring a rectangular shape with a slightly domed lid and rounded corners, beautifully adorned with a Rinpa School-style floral design.

The cover, extending onto the sides, showcases an impressive ‘hanaudo’ 花独活 (Heracleum nipponicum - species of hogweed) with large, deeply lobed leaves hanging from a curving stem, surmounted by a cluster of silver umbel flowers. This design is rendered in various shades of golden and silver hiramaki-e 平蒔絵 (low-relief lacquer design) on a golden substrate, with the stem highlighted by dense nashiji 梨子地 (sprinkled gold lacquer).

The interior of the cover and the removable tray are adorned with branches of ‘heavenly bamboo’ 難点 (nanten) bearing red berries, set against a more sparsely applied nashiji on a black lacquer ground, and finished with dense golden nashiji edges.

Period: Japan – Meiji period (1868-1912).

Complete with wooden tomobako 供箱 (storage box).

39.5 by 31.5 cm. Height 13.5 cm.