Early 20th Century Japanese Round Lacquer Box With Scottish Thistle Design and Three Legs

Details

Description

This striking antique Japanese lacquer box is both highly unique and a quintessential piece of Japanese lacquerware. The round body … Read more This striking antique Japanese lacquer box is both highly unique and a quintessential piece of Japanese lacquerware. The round body is supported by a very unusual three legged support, and the lid features thistles - not a theme one normally associates with Japanese design - but the deep red and glossy black is a classic color combination in Japanese lacquerware.

The lid of the box has a lovely color palette of neutral earth tones; ochre, olive green, and red thistles upon a warm ivory background surrounded by concentric rings of silver maki-e.

Measures:
Diameter: 6.5in. (16.5cm.)
Height: 4in. (10cm.)

There are many techniques of Japanese lacquerware, all of which are incredibly painstaking. Layer upon layer of liquid lacquer would be applied, and each would need to dry before the next layer was added. The build-up of these layers forms the base, to which the decoration is then applied.
One of the main types of Japanese lacquer decoration is maki-e, which involves sprinkling the lacquer surface with gold or silver powder, as seen on the lid of the box.

This item is in excellent condition except two of the silver rings have worn off entirely in places. See less