A lacquer suzuribako box with mixed inlays

Meiji period, 1869-1912, Japan

Height: 5.7cm, 2.2 inches Length: 23.5 cm, 9.3 inches, Width: 22 cm, 8.7 inches

A suzuribako the outside lid decorated with boys at play, beside a fence and a pine, plum and banana trees, all applied in a mixture of materials and lacquer, including tortoise shell, mother of pearl, wood, shakudo and malakite – against a nashiji background. The inside lid with a duck on a rock beside water in gold and silver, takamakie, nashiji and kirigane.