East Asian Decorative Boxes

An elegant rectangular lacquered wood box, featuring a delicate hand-painted design on the lid depicting two cranes in flight amidst flowers and foliage. Crafted using traditional Japanese techniques, it boasts a beautiful original patina that attests to its age and authenticity. Equipped with a front lock (key not included), this box could have been used to store precious documents, jewelry, writing accessories, or personal items. Its refined decoration and timeless charm make it a wonderful collector's item and decorative piece. An antique piece full of character, ideal for enthusiasts of Japanese art and Asian objects. Style : Japanese Asian Art Meiji Traditional Lacquer 19th Century Key Features : Lacquered wood Hand-painted decoration Crane and flower motif Original lock (key missing) Beautiful antique patina Japanese craftsmanship 19th Century Decorative and collector's item Storage for jewelry or small objects Keywords : japanese lacquer box, antique japanese box, meiji lacquer box...

This is a vintage Japanned pen box. A Japanese, lacquered Papier-mâché calligrapher's quill case, dating to the Art Deco period, circa 1930. Charming desktop pen case, ideal for col...

An elegant antique Japanese box in black lacquered wood, decorated with a delicate gold motif depicting a bird perched on a flowering branch, acco...

Nicely carved Inro with birds and flowers. Quality craftsmanship. Hand-carved pierced sides and top. Opens into two pieces, held together with a rust-red s...

Japanese gilt lacquer document box with a calligraphy Document, painted and gilt in flowers, a dedicated artwork. The original decorated strings ...

A heavy beautiful modernist round brass box

This is a box for the matcha powder using while tea ceremony in Japan. It is called 'Natsume'. It is made with wood. The design is a boat and it is hand painted. The material is with...

Vintage bronze cloisonne lacquer powder box featuring Prunus blossoms - removeable lid - unsigned - China - mid 20th century. Excellent vintage condition - no loss - no damage - n...

Charming and highly detailed anthropomorphic bronze sculpture depicting a penguin rendered as a gentleman, dressed in a tailored overcoat with bow tie and hat, and holding a walking ...

A Japanese 18th Century Tsukinami-e 6 Panel Floor Screen depicts the Activities of the Twelve Months of the Year, mineral pigments on gold leaf, mounted on wood panels with 6 frames...

Japanese lacquered papier-mâché box with hand-painted decoration, Japan, 19th century. A refined black lacquered papier-mâché box adorned with a rich polychrome decoration depicting...

Each side of this vintage Chinese trunk is decorated with scenery of a lavish mountainside palace, brushed with intricate gold linework atop red and black lacquer. Robed members of t...

This is a Japanese lunch box. This is made of paulownia woods and painted with lacquer-Wajima. It can be used as decoration. Family crest: This fam...

This is an antique calligrapher's pen box. An Oriental, lacquered papier-mâché quill case in Chinoiserie taste, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1890. Fascinating pen case...

This charming piece from Shanghai is a creative example of traditional hand-weaving, shaped into a friendly kangaroo. Crafted with care using natural reed and wicker, the box feature...

Vintage cobalt blue porcelain box decorated with pagodas in a riverscape, interior fitted with two compartments, made in 20th Century Width 7.5 inches / depth 4 inches / height 3 inc...

Lovely sewing kit made of hand painted rattan, the top is decorated artistically with floral raffia work. Inside include plastic try and nice upholstered storage compartment. Excep...

A vintage Chinese decorative box, crafted in wood and finished in lustrous black lacquer, its surface delicately adorned with a gilt bamboo and green leaf motif. The design, executed...

Set of three semi antique Chinese lacquered paper mache storage boxes with conforming dome top lids. Each of the boxes printed Mdm. Caroline Picard, 61 Rue St. Peres, Paris. Paper us...

This is an old Japanese wooden box, crafted in the Meiji to Taishō period (1860s–1920s). Despite its long history, it retains a quiet and compelling presence. The box is made from traditional sugi (Japanese cedar), whose soft grain and gentle texture reflect the depth and warmth of its age. The form is strikingly minimal—its design is completely free of unnecessary elements. Although it is simply a box, the composition of clean lines and planes gives it a subtle tension and understated beauty. It carries the precision and warmth of handcraft, something that cannot be replicated by industrial production. One particularly captivating feature is the visible trace of careful repairs made over many years. A knot hole on the side was thoughtfully patched with black washi paper, a practical repair that, over time, has become an expressive and almost artistic detail. In this small gesture, one can sense the quiet presence of Japanese aesthetic sensibilities. The top and sides bear gentle wear and abrasion accumulated over decades. Rather than damage, these marks serve as a texture created by time, giving the piece its unique depth and character. The box possesses a humble yet powerful presence—a true embodiment of wabi-sabi, the beauty of imperfection and age. The interior remains sturdy, offering ample storage capacity. It has been thoroughly cleaned, ensuring it can be used safely and comfortably. Its low, elongated proportions make it highly versatile: ideal as a low coffee table, a book table, a side table, or a display platform. Simply placing it in a modern interior instantly adds a sense of calm and visual depth. A simple yet richly expressive antique wooden box...

Porcelain bronze mounted box, Art Nouveau style Made of hand-painted crackled, glazed high quality bronze mounted porcelain. Signed on the bottom. An all over polychrome floral deco...

Lovely Chinese export cloisonné box made of brass and enameled with a beautiful floral pattern in beautiful colors of red, green, blue and red. The box rests on ball feet. This chino...

Antique Chinese bone ebony oval treasure box with lid cover decorated with incized symbol of happiness on top.

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...

Incredibly sleek and classic multi-use decorative jewerly box. This beautiful box is divided in 2 compartments and lined with red velvet and includes a vanity...

A richly decorated early 19th century Chinese export sewing or work box in black lacquer, detailed throughout with intricate gilt landscapes and figures. The interior retains a full ...

A finely crafted Japanese tabletop cabinet from the early 20th century, this compact storage piece is richly detailed with traditional decorative techniques and export-era flourishes...

Magnificent Japanese museum quality exhibition piece contemporary decorative porcelain box/centerpiece, extremely intricately hand-painted in vivid blue, orange and green on a stunni...

A striking Chinese lapis blue cloisonné round lidded box or bowl, early 1980s. Vibrantly decorated with a green border, ombre cherry blossoms, a single butterfly, gilded accents and ...

Fabienne Jouvin-Paris Cloisonne 'Ouzbek' Box Designed by artesian Fabienne Jouvin-Paris Made in China, 1980s This stunning Fabienne Jouvin-Paris Cloisonné 'Ouzbek' Box, crafted in t...

Japanese Large Lacquer Box with a Cover in Melon shape, depicting the melon with ivy branches, leaves, and butterflies.

Chinese Huanghuali wood box decorated with bronze mountings and motifs of bats, fish and moths. The top features a classic Chinese medallion mounted to the centre of the lid. In un...

This Shiwan ceramic pillow (headrest) of earthenware features a green & blue glaze. Pillows in this shape were not only used by opium smokers but most typi...

Small decorative Money Bank in the shape of a drum. It's made from silver plated metal and cobalt blue glass. You get access to its content by turning the lid. Manufactured by Viener...

A striking and whimsical large-scale decorative mallard duck container designed by Maitland-Smith. Expertly hand-painted with richly detailed feather patterns, the sculpture captures...

For your consideration, an antique Japanese hibachi, a traditional wooden container used as a charcoal brazier for heating or cooking.It is constructed from Keyaki (elm) hardwood, fe...

A small and delightful Japanese yellow ground cloisonne round trinket or incense box, Meiji Period, circa 1910, Japan. The small box of squat, round shape, and may originally have b...

Rectangular Japanese box in lacquered papier-mâché with hand-painted decoration, Japan, 19th century. An elegant rectangular box in black lacquered papier-mâché, adorned with a delicate hand-painted design depicting cranes among reeds in a landscape inspired by Japanese artistic tradition. Executed in subtle shades of gray, gold, and brown against a deep black background, this composition evokes the serenity and refinement of Meiji-era decorative arts. The exquisite decoration, combined with the simplicity of the form, testifies to the craftsmanship of 19th-century Japanese artisans. Originally intended for storing documents, accessories, or precious objects, this box is now valued as both a collector's item and a decorative piece. A representative piece of the enduring passion for Japanese art, prized for its timeless elegance and exquisite craftsmanship. Style : Japonisme Japanese decorative art Meiji period Orientalist Japanese lacquer Late 19th century Main characteristics : Rectangular box with lid Black lacquered papier-mâché Hand-painted decoration Crane and aquatic plant motif Handcrafted Beautiful patina of age Japan, 19th century Decorative and collectible object Keywords : Japanese papier-mâché box, antique Japanese box, lacquered papier-mâché box, Meiji period box, Japanese decorative box, hand-painted lacquer box, crane motif box, oriental storage box, antique Japanese lacquerware...

Finely detailed champlevé scarab shape box with gilt wash interior. Traces of antique mirror on inner top. Rich colors of blue, turquoise purple finely enameled all around box.

Antique Japanese Lacquered Box. Offered is a beautifully detailed Japanese lacquered box that dates to the 1920's. This decorative box is artful...

Trunks and storage chests were the most ubiquitous form of household storage throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties. Used to store clothes, linens, and personal effects, trunks were ...

This slender metal container is a 19th-century white brass incense burner, used for storing and burning incense sticks. The small box has a rectangular form and a removable sliding t...

A fine Japanese porcelain box. Decorated to the exterior with a dark turquoise enamel ground with floral decorations. The figural finial as wel...

A gorgeous Majolica ceramic trompe l'Oeil asparagus covered box By Fitz & Floyd Japan, circa 1980s Measures: 7.25"W x 4"D x 3"H Very good original vintage condition.

Japanese vintage small box tansu chest of drawers, Kohikidashi, fully made of Kiri (Paulownia). Refinished by seller with traditional black Urushi ...

An antique Japanese late Meiji era covered Totai enamel on porcelain trinket or jewelry box. Circa: late 19th century to early 20th century. The ware is enameled with a polychrome floral medallion with butterflies and berries, on the top of the cover, surrounded by floral, and foliage patterns made in the Cloisonne technique. A hand painted image of a flower, under the cover. Dated, 01.12.08, and probably numbered, 6, on the bottom. Totai Shippo...

This exquisite vintage Asian lacquered box is a stunning example of mid-century Chinoiserie design. Featuring a classic octagonal silhouette, the piece is finished in a deep black la...

Hand-carved free-standing Japanese Working Man Figurine. Okimono is a Japanese term meaning for display as an art or decorative object. Figure rests on an flat irregular oval base. T...

A Vintage Chinese Black Lacquer Wooden Decorative Box Description: Featuring traditional calligraphy and red painted details. The rectangular box is secured with a central bronze-to...

1891-1911 Chinese cinnabar stamp box. The red lacquer carved with a garden scene & a sage under a tree. Hinged. Sides are fully carved as well. Marked "China". Late Qing Dynasty. 3 3...

A Japanese lacquered wood fubako (a box to store document or small scroll painting) circa late 18th century of Edo period. The rectangular box features a deep lid with rounded corners and recessed mid-edge and a lower box with two bronze medallion rings and tasseled silk ties. The surface of the fubako was elaborately decorated with hiramaki-e and a low takamaki-e on a mottled Mura-nashiji background. The motifs on the lid depict branches of Japanese pine with finely rendered needles on the lower part; on the upper part, it showcases fruited persimmon branches. Two different shades of gold fundame were used to contrast the design and augmented by scattered gold kirigane to highlight some of the leaves. The design continues and cascades down to all sides of the lid as well as the walls of the box. The two bronze medallions appear original to the box and the silk ties show significant fading from the age. This Fine fubako is signed on the lower wall "Kanshosai" in Kanji with a kao mark. All the trims were finished in gold fundame and the interiors a dense nashiji in gold. Kanshosai is the mark of the distinguished lacquer artist Lizuka Toyo I who also signed his work "Toyosai". He was active in the second half of the 18th century during Edo period, employed by Hachisuka Shigeyoshi (1738-1801), daimyo of Awa on Shikoku Island. Although most survived work bearing his marks are inros, he was also known to decorated trays and other larger objects...

Pair of Vintage Chinese Metal Boxes with decorations of dragons. Realized in China in the mid-20th Century. Good condition.

Meticulously enamelled and gilt satsuma box, Meiji Period (1867-1912). Overall very good antique condition, base that the box sits on is a bit slanted. L...

The soft, matte texture and eroded wear of this petite porcelain box suggest it spent many years submerged in saltwater, likely excavated from a sunken trade ship carrying Chinese ce...

A fine and elegant Korean black lacquer and abalone mother of pearl inlay "longevity" box, circa 1930s, Korea. The box, most likely used to sto...

Elegant vintage Chinese cloisonné enamel trinket box crafted in brass with finely detailed polychrome enamel decoration. The domed lid features flowering branches in shades of cobalt...

Presenting an astonishing Japanese Antique Carved Bone Pillbox Inro, museum quality with the amazing carving skill depicting rats on the lid and body and the relief weaved basket pat...

This is a cast pewter lidded box modelled as a duck with copper detail, made in Hong Kong and dating to the mid -century, Circa 1950s The mixed metal box is cast in the Cinoiserie ...

Pretty little Japanese lacquered box. On a golden metal medal inside we can read the royal motto of the Netherlands, adorned with a lion: "Je maintiendrai...

This elegant container is a 19th-century Chinese document box, once used by a Qing-dynasty scholar-official to store stationery accessories such as brushes, seals and ink sticks. Cra...