A GOLD-LACQUER KODANSU (SMALL CABINET)Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, late 19th/20th centuryThe richkinji ground sumptuously decorated predominantly in gold and redhiramaki-e andtakamaki-e with profuse highlights ofe-nashiji andkirikane, the exterior front, top, and side surfaces with a shoal of bottlenose dolphins swimming in different directions among a wide variety of fish and other sea creatures including assorted species of butterflyfish, clown triggerfish, marine angelfish, maroon clownfish, bannerfish, and sardines, the reverse with a solitary heron flying towards clumps of bamboo grasses growing among rocks, the two hinged doors opening to reveal within four removable drawers similarly lacquered with different seasonal flowers, the inside of the right door embellished with New Year motifs, threetanchozuru (red-crested cranes) standing on a hillock, and young pines on the inside of the left door, applied with silvered-metal mounts chased with scrollingkarakusa ('Chinese grasses'),unsigned; with a woodtomobako storage box titledKaiyu maki-e kodansu (Small cabinet with gambolling sea creatures inmaki-e).18.8cm x 17.5cm x 11.6cm (7 3/8in x 6 7/8in x 4 9/16in). (2).