Japanese Silver Box With Signed Mixed-Metal Floral Lid, Attributed to Shōbidō

Details

Description

Japanese rectangular silver box with a removable mixed-metal lid, provisionally attributed to Shōbidō of Osaka.

The finely worked lid depicts … Read more Japanese rectangular silver box with a removable mixed-metal lid, provisionally attributed to Shōbidō of Osaka.

The finely worked lid depicts flowers, foliage, and arching grasses against a dark patinated ground. Gold-colored floral accents complement a raised, silver-colored central blossom with delicately modeled petals. An engraved two-character signature and a small square seal appear at the lower right; the lid artist has not yet been identified.

The silver body bears Japanese characters read as 純銀製, meaning “made of pure silver,” alongside a smaller mark tentatively read as 尚美, supporting the proposed Shōbidō attribution. The purity inscription applies to the body; the decorative lid’s metal composition has not been tested.

The box rests on four bracket feet. Surface scratches, wear, and patina are present, including more pronounced scratching to the underside. Please review the photographs for condition and details.

Measures approximately 4 inches long × 3 inches wide × 1 inch high. See less