A FINE LACQUER BOX AND COVER DEPICTING INSECTS WITH INTERIOR TRAY Japan, 19th century Of rounded rectangular form, the exterior superbly decorated in iro-e takamaki-e and hiramaki-e to depict various insects including a dragonfly, butterfly, praying mantis, crickets, and ladybugs as well as scattered leafy and floral sprays, all against a fine woodgrain ground in e-nashiji on roiro. The base and interior with dense nashiji and fundame edges, fitted with a tray similarly decorated with cranes flying over pine trees against a nashiji ground. SIZE 6.2 x 16.7 x 13.5 cm Condition: Good condition with minor wear, the cover with a small chip and associated minor crack to one corner, few minuscule chips to edges, few expected age cracks, and minor flaking to lacquer. Provenance: British private estate.