A JAPANESE LACQUER COSMETIC BOX AND COVER, TEBAKO

EDO PERIOD OR LATER, 18TH CENTURY OR LATER

The rectangular body decorated in red, silver and gold hiramaki-e, takamaki-e and nashiji lacquer with an elegant pattern of a kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttering on a striped background, the sides with ring handles with Kuyo mon-shaped mounts, the crest made up of eight circles surrounding a ninth one, 13cm x 13.6cm x 19.7cm. (2)

Provenance: formerly in the collection of Edward C. Moore (1827-1891) and later gifted to the family of the current owner.

See the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, access. no.91.1.629, for another lacquer box from the collection of Edward C. Moore decorated with butterflies. Also access. no.2015.500.2.31a-f for another box with a comparable striped ground. The striped patterns may be a reference to Indian and South-East Asian textiles.

Kuyo mon, the "Nine Stars Crest", was used by several high-ranking families including the Katakura, Ishida and Soma clans.