A gold-lacquer box in the form of a Takarabune (treasure ship) and cover


Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1880The kinji ground lavishly lacquered in gold takamaki-e and hiramaki-e and kirikane with Daikoku and Ebisu seated atop respectively a treasure sack and bales of rice on the prow of their treasure ship piled with assorted auspicious objects and takamaki-e, the faces and hands of Daikoku and Ebisu inlaid in ivory and other details inlaid in shell, coral and wood, Hotei gesticulating towards a pair of cranes in flight above, a flock of cranes depicted on the sides, several wading in a lake and others flying among pine, the interior embellished in rich nashiji and fitted with an en-suite removable tray lacquered in gold takamaki-e with a scholar looking out in contemplation over a mountainous lakescape from the circular window of a thatched hut; unsigned. 5.2cm x 10.2cm x 14.5cm (2 1/8in x 4in x 5¾in). (3).