A FINE JAPANESE SAYA SHEATH THREE-CASE INRO

A FINE JAPANESE SAYA SHEATH THREE-CASE INRO

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

Decorated in gold, silver and black lacquer hiramaki-e, takamaki-e and nashiji with inlays in aogai (abalone shell), the cases embellished with the elegant shapes of three herons wading amongst tall grasses,with roiro-nuri and nashiji gold flakes on the black ground reminiscent of a starry night; the sheath with a design in openwork of arabesques forming a window through which the cranes are visible; decorated with mon of various shapes including chrysanthemum flowerheads and birds; with bands of asa-no-ha and other geometrical designs to the side, suspended on a silk cord and with a lacquer ojime, 8.3cm overall. (5)