A JAPANESE KOMAI INLAID IRON BOX AND COVER

A JAPANESE KOMAI INLAID IRON BOX AND COVER

MEIJI ERA, 19TH/20TH CENTURY

Of rectangular shape with a hinged lid and raised on four bracket feet, the top decorated with the sankin-kotai procession of a daimyo and his retinue to Edo, the lord riding on a horse and surrounded by soldiers and other attendants, some bearing standards; the sides with depictions of arms, armours and auspicious objects; the inside with a three-tiered pagoda and another pavilion, all rendered in gold, silver and copper on the black ground; the base with the dragonfly mark for Komai Otojiro of Kyoto (1842-1917) and sealed Nippon koku Kyoto ju Komai sei, 4.3cm x 10.7cm x 7.4cm.