NIHASHI YOSHIHIRA (1896-1977)An Inlaid Mixed-Metal Rectangular Accessory Box and CoverShowa era (1926-1989), 1965With a gold andshakudo surface, the cover decorated with a clump ofhagi (bush clover) applied in high relief inlay of gold,shibuichi, and gold, the long sides with three butterflies applied in high relief of gold, silver, andshakudo, the shorter sides with a triangular formation of stylised wave designs on one corner and stylised dandelions similarly rendered in gold flat inlay on one corner, the interior lined in silk brocade, signed on the undersideShowa yonjunen aki Nihashi Yoshihira saku (Made by Nihashi Yoshihira, autumn 1965); with a woodtomobako storage box titledShakudo sei irogane kaizogan, akikusa chocho-mon hako (Coloured metal-inlaidshakudo box with autumn plants and butterfly design), the inside of the lid dated and signedShowa yonjunen aki no hi, Nihashi Yoshihira saku (Made by Nihashi Yoshihira, in autumn 1965) with sealYoshihira.12cm x 22.6cm x 11.5cm (4¾in x 8 7/8in x 4½in). (3).Provenance: Exhibited and Illustrated:Ninth Nitten Exhibition, 1977 (as his last work).Tenryu City, Tenryu City Board of Education, Tenryu City Cultural Association,Nihon no chokinkai no kyosho: Nihashi Yoshihira to sono shuhen ten (Great Master in Japanese Metal Engraving World: Nihashi Yoshihira and His Contemporaries Exhibition), 26 January-2 February 1986; illustrated in the exhibition catalogue.Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1896, Nihashi Yoshihira went to Tokyo at the age of 10, studied under Unno Bisei, graduated from Tokyo Fine Art School with a top grade in 1925 and was founding member and director of the Nihon Kogeikai (Japan Crafts Association). He exhibited in several Teiten, Bunten, and other national exhibitions. Some of his works weremissioned by the Imperial Household Agency.