Lot 6. A Lacquer Casket Commissioned by the Portuguese, Momoyama period, late 16th - early 17th century © Christie's Image Ltd 2017

The rectangular casket with domed hinged cover, decorated in shark skin, gold hiramaki-e and inlaid in mother-of-pearl over a black ground, each panel bordered with inlaid bands and shippo patterns, copper gilt fittings engraved with stylised flowers - 16.9cm. wide. Estimate GBP 5,000 - 7,000

Notes: For an example decorated in shark skin in the Tokyo National Museum collection, go to: http://webarchives.tnm.jp/imgsearch/show/C0097526

For another example in the Oita City Historical Museum collection, visit Cultural Heritage Online (Japanese): 
http://bunka.nii.ac.jp/SearchDetail.do?heritageId=23254#

A similar example sold Christie’s London, 20 November 1990, lot 1010. 

For more information on lacquer caskets commissioned by Europeans, visit the British Museum website: 
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/t/travelling_chest_kamaboko-bak.aspx

Christie's on line. JAPANESE ART AT THE ENGLISH COURT