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Inlaid iron box and cover signed Ryuosai Masatoshi Nasu 龍翁齋政壽作鐵嵌漆蓋盒
Circa 1880, Meiji Period
Height 6.5 cm 2.56 inches, width 16.2 cm 6.38 inches, and depth 11.8 cm 4.65 inches
Inlaid iron box and cover, signed Ryuosai Masatoshi Nasu 龍翁齋政壽作鐵嵌漆蓋盒
Circa 1880, Meiji Period
This rectangular iron box has robed corners and a metal inlay design. Its lid depicts Daikoku, one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods, who represents good fortune and wealth. Signified here by his mallet, straw-rice bags, and a rat (which corresponds with north in the Chinese zodiac) he is laden with abundant sacks swelling with treasure. His cheerful face and animated movement result in a lively composition bursting with energy.
The technique used in this design is takaniku-iroe-zogan. Takaniku (高肉) refers to sculptural designs that stand out to produce three-dimensional pictorial effects. Iroe (色絵) describes the use of different coloured metals; here, the design is worked in gilt, silver, copper, shakudo and shibuichi, which are prized metal alloys in Japan. Zogan (象嵌) refers to the process of inlaying metal onto a base material. The lid is framed by a band of scrolling stylised wisteria flowers in gold and silver hira-zogan (平象嵌), which refers to the skilful inlay of metal flush with its base metal. On the box’s sides, further stylized designs of leaves and vines span the surface. The lid bears the signature ‘RyuosaiMasatoshi nasu’ (worked by Ryuosai Masatoshi), whose high-relief work suggests he was a member of the Mito school.
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