Meiji Lacquer

This is a wooden bucket used by Japanese lacquerware craftsmen to store lacquer. It is believed to have been used from the Meiji period to the first half of the Showa era (1868-1940)...

A large hibachi (手焙り, te-aburi / hand-warmer brazier) of paulownia wood (kiri, 桐), decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay (raden, 螺鈿) and makie lacquer depicting birds and flowers (花鳥蒔...

A superb Japanese lacquer hibachi (brazier) finished in ro-iro — the mirror-black lacquer technique prized above all others for the depth and brilliance of its polish — decorated wit...

Dimensions: 23 × 23 × 26 cm Material: Black lacquer with maki-e decoration Box: Signed tomobako (original wooden box) A refined example of late Meiji craftsmanship, this lacquer hibachi (traditional Japanese brazier...

A very attractive Japanese wood table top jewelry or collector's chest with marquetry and lacquer decoration, Meiji period, circa 1900, Japan. Previously in the collection of Asbjorn Lunde (1927 - 2017). The chest is crafted in the form of a Chinese seal...

An exquisite small Japanese maki-e lacquer stacking box for incense and accessories, ju-kobako, late Edo or early Meiji Period, mid 19th century, Japan. Crafted in maki-e lacquer an...

A resplendent Japanese gold maki-e lacquer ryoshibako, document box, Meiji Period, late 19th century, Japan. The large document box, known in Japan as a ryoshibako, is decorated al...

This is a good papier mâché, rectangular shaped black lacquered lidded box, hand enamelled and gilded, made in Japan during the 19th century, early Meiji period. This rectangular shaped papier mâché box has a well fitting hinged lid, with the box base and lid slightly domed. The box was probably originally made as a pocket box but could easily sit on a desk or dressing table as required. This is a very decorative box with finely hand painted scenes of three people, one holding a parasol, in a garden setting, with a pagoda type building, large gate...

Fubako letters-box from the Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912). Beautiful decorative Fubako letters box from the Japanese Imperial Meiji period, circa 1900. This box has been meticul...

A fine and impressive Japanese gold maki-e decorated black lacquer five-tier jubako with presentation tray, two lids, and the original tomobako storage box, Meiji period, late 19th c...

Late Meiji to early Taishō period Japanese lacquer box (circa 1890–1920), decorated in the takaramono (宝物, “treasures”) motif, symbolizing prosperity, longevity, and good fortune. Th...

A rare and exquisite complete set of nine Japanese lacquer sweet trays (kashiki) executed in the supremely demanding togidashi maki-e technique — one of the most time-consuming and t...

A large circular plate with a short stem base in Vermillion lacquer color from Late Meiji Period circa end of 19th century to early 20th century. ...

This is a good papier mâché, circular, black lacquered tray, hand enameled and gilded, made in Japan during the 19th century, Meiji period. This circular tray is very decorative, ...

The Inro is comprised of three stacked compartments and features a deer motif with mother of pearl accents, an ojime and a wooden frog netsuke. Inros were used to store items like m...

Four Tier Japanese Gilt Jubako Maki-E box with red Interior. This is a beautiful decorative presentation Jubako box created in the Imperial Japan during the early Meiji period (1868...

Dimensions: W 17.7 × D 17.5 × H 8.3 cm Weight: 255 g Origin: Japan (Aizu region) A refined urushi lacquer bowl crafted in the Aizu region, renowned for its centuries-old lacquer tra...

A Japanese lacquered wood Naga Fubako (a long box used to store document or large scroll painting), circa 19th century Meiji period. The rectangular box features an unusually deep lipped lid with slightly rounded corners, a conforming lower box with bronze medallion rings with tasseled...

A large and magnificently decorated Japanese lacquer document box, ryoshibako, signed Umeboshi/Baikyo, late Edo or early Meiji Period, mid 19th century, Japan. The large document box, ryoshibako, of tall, rectangular shape with rounded corners, and fitted with an inrobuta (flush-fitting) cover with beveled edges. The exterior of this exquisite box is decorated all over with fifteen different raised reserves shaped as uchiwa (paddle) fans against a lush and intricate krikane ground imitating shagreen. The uchiwa shaped reserves all of takamaki-e, and exquisitely painted with designs of animals, flowers, and landscapes in silver, gold, maki-e, hiramaki-e, and takamaki-e, with kirikane, nashiji, and polychrome embellishments, upon gold lacquer fudame grounds. The interior of the lid is nothing short of spectacular, featuring a large design of a magnificent and beautifully detailed rooster and hen with chicks gathered around a lazy stream. Large stalks of chrysanthemum bloom behind them. All against an ethereal nashiji ground. The cover of the box features five reserves: 1. Three minogame (turtles with long tails), symbolizing longevity 2. "Narihira Crossing the Sumida" from The Tales of Ise...

This Meiji period kashiki candy dish presents a graceful and dignified presence. The rounded form is finished in two deep red lacquers arranged in a radiant pattern, accented with el...

Tebako box with two compartments in golden and nashi-ji lacquer, decorated with golden, red, and kirigane lacquer, golden persimmon tree leaves, among rocks. The compartments are of ...

The case decorated overall in crackle-glaze white lacquer and fitted with a patinated metal carrying handle over three tiers of small drawers. The first two tiers are comprised of a ...

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Period Shibayama Inlaid Lacquered Panel C.1890 Panel with Figural Inlay Japan, late 19th century (Meiji period) Rectangular panel decorated with...

A fine Japanese wood Hibachi with copper insert circa 1900-30s end of Meiji to Taisho Period. It can be used as a unique planter or to showcase a...

A seven-piece Japanese Arita Sweetmeat set and matching lacquer box, Meiji period (1880-1890). Comprising of a central hexagonal dish and six-fan shaped ...

With intricate construction and exquisite decoration, this fine tabletop writing set is a masterpiece of Japanese lacquerware. The matching set includes a writing table (bundai) and poem box (tanzaku bako), both decorated with gilt lacquer in the style of takamaki-e and hiramaki-e urushi lacquer. Framed by everted ends, the lacquered table top is masterfully worked, depicting a robed man seated on a veranda within an idyllic mountain-and-water landscape. Swirling clouds drift overhead and pine trees bend towards the sky, formed of raised lacquer (takamaki-e) and mother of pearl inlay (raden). Dark lacquer at the corners imitate metal hardware and the sculptural corner legs are decorated with raised motifs of maple leaves. The writing table includes a matching poem box (tanzaku bako), used for storing paper cards of painted calligraphy and poetry. The lid is similarly decorated in shimmering gilt lacquer with a raised design of a fine carriage beneath a pine tree, draped in cloths and shaded by bamboo blinds...

This Meiji-period lacquer tray represents the mastery of Japanese craftsmen in the art of lacquer work. Precious materials are precisely inlaid in the lacquer base, creating a highly...

A beautiful Japanese suzuribako (writing box) crafted in fine lacquer and decorated in maki-e technique with an elegant depiction of cranes. Dating to the late Edo Period to early Me...

A finely decorated set of 3 red lacquer sake cups, sakazuki, featuring views of Mt. Fuji, Meiji period, circa 1900, Japan. The lacquer sake cups, called sakazuki, of traditional p...

A good Japanese carved cinnabar three case inro with mixed metal ojime, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. The three case inro of standard form, comprised of three container se...

A very fine Japanese lacquer tebako, box for personal accessories, in the form of rolled bolts of brocade fabric, Meiji Period, late 19th century, Japan. The box is whimsically shap...

Small circular lacquered wood incense box (kōgō). The exterior of the concave cover is decorated with three crabs rendered in fundame, hiramaki-e, and takamaki-e in gold. Each is uni...

This exquisite Meiji-period lacquer document box known as a ryoshibako showcases the meticulous artistry of maki-e, a technique of raised lacquer decoration. Adorned with gold and vi...

Miniature tea house with a crane and bamboo motif in black and gold takamaki-e lacquer on a rankaku (eggshell inlay) base. It has several compartments and trays on the roof, walls an...

Presentation Tebako box from the Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912). Beautiful decorative presentation Tebako box from the Japanese Imperial Meiji period, circa 1880. This box has been meticulously crafted in a squared cushioned shape in wood with kara coating Kobayashi red lacquer, gilding, black lacquer and inlaid decorations of abalone shell, Raden. Tebako literally means "portable box", it is a toilet box containing the objects necessary for washing and make-up, especially blush mirror...

A stunningly attractive & exceptionally large baluster shaped ‘Ryukyu Hariko’ (papier mâché) vase, masterfully decorated overall with hand painted images of a fruiting peach tree...

Imposing kobako in nashiji lacquer on a black ground, decorated with a motif imitating wood grain. The lid is adorned with an ikebana basket (hanakago) containing a bouquet of remark...

This 19th century Japanese Pharmacy sign advertises a popular stomach medicine, Aifu from the Juwa Co. in Osaka. The hand-painted registered trademark of the world looking through bi...

This Meiji-period lacquer tray represents the mastery of Japanese craftsmen in the art of lacquer work. Precious materials are precisely inlaid in the lacquer base, creating a highly...

An exquisite Japanese Meiji Period small lacquer incense box, kogo, in the form of a duck or goose, late 19th century, Japan. The delicate lacquer box, known as a kogo in Japanese, ...

Antique Japanese export lacquer and gilt bamboo stick stand, see more pictures, 46'' x 27.5'' x 10''.  

A pair of large Japanese golden black lacquer cover boxes, very big beautiful pieces. possibly 19th century, each 14 inch diameter x 10 inch high, one ...

An assemble of four lacquerware sake cups from Meiji period Japan circa late 19th century. The shadow cups on an elevated stem were used by the nobles during ...

Japanese Lacquer Hibachi (Brazier), Meiji period (1868 - 1912) Box- shaped Japanese hibachi with mother of pearl inlay, handles on two sides, and a cop...

A fine vintage wooden vase. Carved in a hyperboloidal form. With a dark red lacquer throughout. Marked to the base with a stylized tensho-tai script seal. Simply a wonderful Jap...

Huge Japanese red lacquerware gourd motif box, decorated in relief with Japanese gourds suspended from leafy branches and scrolling vines.

A Japanese red & black lacquer wooden bowl from the early 20th century. It is carved from a block of what is likely to be fruit wood. The bowl has aged beautifully over the years wit...

The highly decorated tray in the form of a table frames a series of three stacking boxes, a further three lidded boxes and a tray concealed within, raised on ogee bracket feet. This...

Hailing from illustrious Meiji-period Japan, this lacquer tray showcases the mastery of Japanese craftsmen. Precious materials are precisely inlaid in the lacquer base, creating an a...

This box with many drawers is a Japanese tabako-bon, or 'tobacco tray,' used to store tobacco and smoking accessories. Believed to have evolved from the t...

A large maki-e presentation tray from the Meiji period. This is an extraordinary presentation rectangular tray created in the Imperial Japan period during the pinnacle of the Meiji ...

Japanese Inro from the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Beautiful Inro, created in Japan during the Meiji imperial period, circa 1870. It was carefully crafted in carved precious wood with applications of lacquer and decorated with orientalism patterns. All dan trays are attached together with a himo cord. The detailed craftsmanship was a true pleasure to behold. Period: Meiji 1868-1912, Period of Emperor Mutsuhito. Approximate Date: 1870. Motif: Organic design with cascade landscape scene and five flying cranes. Drawers: Five. Shape: Cylinder. Very unusual and rare shape. Technique: Carved wood, Lacquer, hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, Gilding. Ojime: 17mm, round with Ebony wood. Netsuke: Carved dressed...

The 'ishime' lacquered case consisting of two conforming molded sections with one sliding overtop the other, both sides decorated with hand painted gilt, silver & burnt dark russet (kasshoku) lacquers, depicting motifs in low relief of a rat with an acorn on one side and two acorns on the opposing. In Japanese culture rats are considered auspicious symbols of fertility & wealth, acorns symbolize prosperity & growth. Signed with characters and a mon on one edge. Takamaki-e is a lacquer technique in which metallic powders such as silver, gold, copper, pewter etc., are used in combination with lacquer & clay-dust to build up motifs in low relief. Please note that the color tones & hues of the lacquered motifs appear somewhat more vibrant in the images due to ambient lighting conditions. Regarding the opinion stating the superior quality of this fine example being likened to works associated with those by Shibata...

Two large eight-sided kaioke boxes in black lacquer, decorated with mon and maple leaves in golden lacquer. These are usually octagonal boxes containing the painted shells used in ...

Designed to hold glowing embers, hibachi vessels were used for cooking or as a source of heat in Japanese homes. Placed under a low wood kotatsu table wi...

A Japanese four-case inro with a stringed carved wood netsuke circa 19th century. The inro has a near square form with rounded corners, The surface is decorated with gold hiramaki-e ...

With slightly domed removable lid opening to an open interior, conforming case with central gilded samurai family crest or Mon depicting a butterfly. Brass trim and handles. Richards...

This antique card box is unsigned or initialed, so the specific artist is unknown, but is believed to have been made in Japan in circa 1900 in the per...

A Japanese lacquered tea caddy (known as Natsume) with fine Maki-e decoration circa 18-19th century Edo to Meiji period. The large-sized nat...

A large circular plate with a short stem base in Vermillion lacquer color from Late Meiji Period circa end of 19th century to early 20th century. ...