A RARE LACQUER KOBAKO AND COVER WITH INRO DESIGNJapan, mid-19th century to Meiji period (1868-1912)The box and cover bearing a kinji ground decorated with gold sprinkles, the cover decorated in a variety of techniques including takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, togidashi-e, kirigane, gold foil, and e-nashiji with stylized peony blossoms and foliate scroll as well as a ruyi-cloud design, all surmounted by a roiro-ground inro decorated in gold and silver with pines and bamboo by a swirling stream, the gold rope with two red-lacquered ojime imitating coral. The interior of bright nashiji with gold fundame edges.LENGTH 11.1 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.Provenance: The Ankarcrona Collection of Japanese Works of Art. Sten Ankarcrona (1861–1936) began collecting upon his first visit to Japan in the late 1880s, at the beginning of the golden age of travel and collecting in Europe. The young aristocratic Swedish naval officer became fascinated by the breadth of artistic production in the region and continued to add to his collection back in Europe. In 1923, by then an admiral, he was appointed by the King of Sweden to travel back to Japan on a special mission, where he spent two months making many more purchases. His love of Asian art was later passed down to his children and grandchildren, who have enriched the family collection during their own visits to Japan throughout the second half of the 20th century. Notes RefButton4