A Two-Tiered Inlaid Japanese Radial Lacquer Box

Circa 1800

Height: 3.35” 8.5cm - length: 4.92” 12.5cm – width: 2.76” 7cm

Crafted in the evocative silhouette of an opened fan, this three-tiered kobako (incense box) serves as a luminous canvas for a poetic maritime narrative. Across its curved, radial surface, a fleet of shibabune—traditional brushwood boats—, carrying bundles of sticks, drifts with a quiet, rhythmic grace. These vessels, either made of silver or iridescent mother-of-pearl, carry bundles of grain that whisper of an abundant harvest and the promise of prosperity. The theme may come from or inspired by The Tale of Genji, a narrative widely regarded as the shimmering zenith of classical Japanese literature.

The water beneath them is summoned through stylised, scalloping waves, masterfully brought to life using the maki-e technique. Beneath these golden crests, a dense nashiji ground of gold flakes is suspended within translucent layers of lacquer, creating a celestial depth that feels like sunlight filtering through a deep pool. The delicate interplay of gold powder, subtle silver inlays, and the shimmering light of the shell creates a textural soul, inviting the observer to lose themselves in the stillness of this floating world.