Japanese Brown Lacquer Shell Game Footed Box A Japanese lacquer box of circular design on three feet, measuring 7 x 4 ins. dating to the Taisho Period. This box is similar to those used for storage of shell game pieces. It is made of wood covered with brown lacquer on the outside and reed lacquer on the interior. The design is carved into concentric cirlces. It shows minor signs of wear but otherwise is in fine and original condition.  

Cherry Blossom Lacquer Sake Cup <p><b>A Japanese red lacquer over wood sake cup measuring approximately 4 X 1 1/4 ins., dating to the mid 20th century.</b> The cup has a gold five-petal blossom in the center, representing a family crest, or mon. Both the mouth and foot rims are gold edged. The base has five Kanji characters that represent the maker. The cup is in fine and original condition.  

Black and Gold Lacquer on Wood Paper Box <p><b>A beautiful Japanese black lacquer over wood hinged box, with raised gold and silver lacquer designs of a palm tree, morning glories and a bird, measuring 10 X 8 X 2 1/2 ins., dating to the early 20th century. </b> The interior and back are finished in sprinkled nashiki using multicolored gold and silver powders. The box has a lock but no key. The black surface shows some wear consistent with aging. The raised lacquer is in excellent condition with only minimal wear. The box is signed on the front surface in gold lacquer sosho characters that I cannot read.  

Tree Trunk Lacquer Ikebana Vase An unusual, Japanese lacquered wood vase for ikebana, made from a tree limb or trunk, measuring 11 1/2 ins high and 6 ins. at its widest, dating to the Meiji -Taisho periods. The vase has lacquered leaves and a bird in raised red, gold and silver lacquer. There is a metal insert for the flowers. There are a few dings but nothing major or that would spoil the overall esthetic.  

Set of 5 Lacquer Dishes A set of five Japanese lacquer over wood dishes, measuring approximately 5 ins. in diameter, dating to the mid 1900’s. The dishes are coated with a rich, purple-red lacquer that is decorated with grapes in gold-orange and silver. The dishes are in fine and original condition with minor im chips on two.  

Lacquer over Metal Occ. Japan Storage Box A fine, Japanese lacquer over metal storage box, measuring 6 X 4 X 1 1/2 ins., made by the Maruni Co. in Occupied Japan (1945-52).</b> The box is decorated on the outside with gold lacquer accented by a design of palm fronds or leaves in red, green, silver and gray. The interior is gold lacquer. The base is footed. A fine example of Occupied Japan work that turned scrap metal into fine art. For you collectors of Orientalia, these pieces marked Occupied Japan are a great aid in dating to a specific time period.  

Wood & Lacquer Floral Design Paper Box An exquisite Japanese wooden box with an interior divider, decorated on the surface with irises in gold, green, white and pink lacquer colors and three, accenting diagonal lines, measuring 10 X 8 X 1 1/2 ins., dating to the mid to early 20th century. The interior is finished in black lacquer. The tray, or divider, is finished in red lacquer and has a rest for pens or brushes. The interior of the lid is signed. This box is in excellent condition with no significant losses and only minor scratches on the under surface.  

Lacquer on Metal Japanese Water Bucket A Japanese deep red lacquer over metal water bucket in traditional shape, measuring 9 ins. high X 3 ins across the base, decorated with a cricket in silver and gold flat lacquer, signed by the Maruni Co. and dated to the Occupied Japan period (1945-1953). This piece could be used as a water container for an elaborate tea ceremony, or as an ice bucket for your next party. In excellent condition with only minor surface scratches.  

Pair of Japanese Lacquer Plates <p><b>A pair of Japanese lacquer over wood luncheon or occasional plates measuring 7 ins. in diameter, dating to the late Meiji - early Taisho Periods (1868-1912).</b> Each plate has a gold tendril or scroling vine design accenting a central design of a seaside mountain scene done in raised gold and red lacquer. There are some small frets to the edge noticeable only by touch and some minor wear of the gold. Otherwise the plates are in fine and original condition. They have no marks on the base, meaning either that they pre-dated the tariff acts of 1891 (I doubt this) or that they were part of a set that was marked on the box. Both the design and workmanship are typical of early 20th century -- pre WW II -- work for the tourist trade. In any case, they will make a fine additon to your collection for decoration and/or use as occasional serving pieces.  

Rare Set of Edo/Meiji Lacquer Doll’s Bowls <p><b>A fine and rare set of Japanese lacquer food bowls and stand for a doll’s set, dating to the Meiji Era (1868-1912) but perhaps earlier.</b> The set consists of a stand and six food bowls, four of which are covered. The items are made of a wood base with red lacquer interiors and black lacquer exteriors, decorated with a running vine and flower design in flat, gold lacquer, typical of Edo pieces. The gold edge of the stand is worn evenly and the black lacquer has taken on the rich, dark brown patina characteristic of age and exposure to light. Two of the bowls have rough inner edges but no chips or cracks. Otherwise, the set is in fine and original condition. The stand measures 5 ins. square and stands 4 1/4 ins. tall. The bowls measure 2 X 2, 2 X 1 /12, 1 3/4 X 1 3/4 ins. respectively. A fabulous find for the collector of dolls or fine,antique lacquer.  

Japanese Lacquer and Shell Kimono Box <p><b>An exceptional Japanese lacquer on wood kimono box measuring 14 ins x 10 ins. x 4 1.2 ins, dating to the mid 20th century.</b> The box is covered in a glowing, deep chocolate brown lacquer, both inside and out. It contains a fitted interior tray. The exterior is decorated with inlaid shell in a design of two cranes on the surface and auspicious Buddhist symbols on the edges. The tray has a 16-petal chrysanthemum on one side and a kiri mon associated with the empress one the other, both in iridescent inlaid shell. There are minor scratches on the base but no other damage. <p>The workmanship is typical of that known as Ryukyu lacquer from the island of Okinawa. Korean lacquerers do similar work but the designs of this box are unmistakabely Japanese. Boxes like this cost a small fortune in Japan. The box was probably meant for kimono storage but can serve very well to keep paper in an elegant fashion on your desk.  

Negoro Lacquer Crumb Tray <p><b>A Japanese crumb tray made of wood covered with black and red lacquer that has been rubbed to create a variegated design.</b> The handle of the tray is carved in a floral design. The back is coated in black lacquer. The tray measures 9 X 8 ins. Both front corners show loss of lacquer and there are surface scratches. What looks like a chip in the front edge in the photo is a piece of tape. We date this to the late 19th - early 20th century.  

Negoro Lacquer Japanese Brushholder <p><b>A Japanese bamboo brushpot or holder, measuring 5 ins. tall by 4 1/2 ins. in circumference, covered with Negoro lacquer, dating to the mid 20th century. </b> This fine piece is decorated with a carved design of bamboo leaves. It is signed on the bottom but I cannot translate the signature.  

Japanese Edo Period Lacquer Food Boxes and Tray <p><b>A set of Japanese stacking lacquer on wood food boxes (4), decorated with a base of black lacquer on the ourside and red lacquer on the inside, then covered with intricate scrollwork and mon in gold flat and raised lacquer in a style consistent with the late Edo Period, or early to mid 18th century.</b> The boxes rest on a pierced, lacquered wood tray and stand 8 ins. overall in height. The tray measures 5 X 5 X 2 1/2 ins. The boxes measure 4 X 4 X 1 1/2 ins. The mon in raised gold lacquer is of a six-lobed passion flower, which has a central motif similar to the chrysanthemum. This crest was chosen by several Samurai families because of its simple beauty and similarity to the Imperial crest. The interior base of one of the boxes is cracked, some of the corners have minor chips, there is some rubbing of the gold and mild loss of luster of the original black lacquer.  

Set of 5 Gold & Brown Lacquer Covered Bowls <p><b>An exquisite set of five covered Japanese lacquer over wood bowls with five accompanying shallow bowls, dating to the mid 20th century.</b> The bowls are covered with a rich brown lacquer on the exterior and with black lacquer on the interior. The covers are decorated with cranes in flat and raised gold lacquer with red highlights. The covered bowls measure 4 3/4 X 3 3/4 ins.; the shallow bowls measure 4 3/4 x 1 ins. These bowls are in excellent and original condition with no damage and no significant wear. They are clearly the work of a master craftsman and were intended for use as a wedding gift. Sets of bowls - traditionally done in odd numbers in Japan - retail for $500-600 in their homeland.