Edo period, 17th century.
Gold makie on a black ground with shell inlay.
17 x 14.5 x 13 cm.
A freelydrawn design of plum blossom and bamboo in gold hiramakie flows over this small box, symbolising the end of Winter when these plants challenge the rigours of the season. The form of the box, and the shell inlay to its edges, adopts Namban conventions then being seen in works produced for export to an overseas market. Although this work would have been produced for the Japanese market, it was possibly made for an owner intrigued by the exoticism of overseas’ taste.