A LACQUER MINIATURE KODANSU (CABINET) DEPICTING THE NUNOBIKI FALLSJapan, 19th centuryOf rectangular form with recessed edges, the variously toned mura-nashiji ground finely decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with kirikane and e-nashiji to depict two waterfalls, one descending across the top and door and the other gushing between craggy rocks to the left side of the door. The kodansu with silver fittings chased and incised with foliate designs against a ring-punched ground, the handle with a sliding lock mechanism. The hinged door opening to reveal three drawers, each decorated in gold takamaki-e against a sparse gold and silver nashiji ground, the sides and interiors of dense nashiji with gold fundame edges, the interior of the door similarly decorated with bamboo.SIZE 10.5 x 8.2 x 11 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, particularly to the underside.Provenance: From a German private collection.The scenery embellishing this box is a classic motif of Japanese literature and art. The word nunobiki means "stretched cloth," here realized as a silken cascade descending across the top and door. Nunobiki Falls is a set of waterfalls near downtown Kobe, considered one of the greatest ‘divine falls’ together with Kegon Falls and Nachi Falls. The Nunobiki Falls comprises four separate falls: Ontaki, Mentaki, Tsutsumigadaki, and Meotodaki.