A SUPERB RED LACQUER TEBAKO WITH SIMULATED-METAL SWORD FITTINGS Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) Of rectangular form, the flush-fitting lid with curved edges in gold fundame, the exterior bearing a red ground finely decorated with simulated metal tsuba, kozuka, and arrowheads in gold and colored hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with polychrome lacquer imitating metal iroe techniques, the base and interior of rich nashiji with gold fundame edges. The simulated sword-fittings decorated with a variety of popular subjects, including the three sake testers Shaka (The historical Buddha), Koshi (Confucius), and Roshi (Laozi); Urashima Taro; the Chinese general Kan`u with his retainer, Chokaro and Chinnan sennin, and Shoki about to catch an oni under his banner. Some of the tsuba and kozuka with the signatures of famous metalworkers. SIZE 12.4 x 24.3 x 20 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, expected minor age cracks, few tiny chips. Provenance: The Strong National Museum of Play, accession number 76.3309.a-b (lacquered to the interior of the cover and the base). Margaret Woodbury Strong (1897-1969) grew up in a prosperous family of collectors. Her interests ranged so widely that by 1960 she had amassed more than 27,000 collectible items and works of art. The vast majority of her collections related in some way to play and as her accumulation grew, Margaret planned a museum to house her collection. It eventually opened to the public in 1982, and grew dramatically over the following decades, expanding its collections, facilities, and resources, now spanning over 285,000 square feet. Today, the Strong National Museum of Play (known as just The Strong Museum or simply The Strong) is the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to the study of play. The practice of decorating lacquer boxes with faithful imitations of sword-fittings seems to have been initiated by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891). According to Sawaguchi Goichi`s monumental study of Japanese lacquer, Nihon shikko no kenkyu (1933), a negative mold of the sword-fitting motif was made in plaster and the design was built inside the mold by applying the various layers of lacquer in reverse order. The lacquer decoration was then released from the mold and applied to the box. This method would account for the existence of identical motifs on different cabinets, some signed and some unsigned. Literature comparison: Compare a related inro-dansu with simulated tsuba and kozuka and featuring identical designs, signed and by Shibata Zeshin, illustrated in Meiji no Takara: Treasures of Imperial Japan - The Nasser D. Khalili Collection, The Kibo Foundation, 1996, Shibata Zeshin, no. 72. Auction comparison: Compare a related inro-dansu, dated second half of 19th century, 30.5 x 35.2 x 22.8 cm, at Christie`s, Netsuke & Lacquer from the Japanese Department of Eskenazi, 17 November 1999, London, lot 23 ( sold for 25,300 GBP ). Compare a related inro-dansu, dated Meiji period, 29 x 34.6 x 22.5 cm, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 11 May 2017, London, lot 229 ( sold for 12,500 GBP ). Compare a related tebako, also dated late 19th century, 11.2 x 20.1 x 23.5 cm, at Christie`s, Japanese Art and Design, 13 November 2002, London, lot 81 ( sold for 7,170 GBP ).