A rectangular chabako (box for tea-ceremony utensils) and inrobuta (flush-fitting lid), the exterior decorated in gold, silver and coloured hiramaki-e and takamaki-eand shell inlay with sections of seidonuri (lacquer imitating patinated bronze), all on a dark brown-black background with areas of simulated patination, depicting boats laden with takaramono (auspicious objects associated with the Seven Gods of Good Fortune) including fans, coral, jewels, kakuregasa (invisibility hat),kakuremino (invisibility cloak), mallet and choji (cloves), the base with the same lacquer background, the interior plain unlacquered wood, signed with minute scratched characters on the base Zeshin; with a wood storage box. 13.9cm x 19cm x 13.2cm (5½in x 7½in x 5¼in). (4).

Exhibited and published: Nezu Bijutsukan 根津美術館 (Nezu Museum), Shibata Zeshin no shikko, urushi-e, kaiga 柴田是真の漆工・漆絵・絵画 (Shibata Zeshin: From Lacquer Arts to Painting). Tokyo, Nezu Bijutsukan 根津美術館, 2012, cat. no. 22.

Note: This box is accompanied by a letter from Count Tanaka Mitsuaki 田中光顕 (1843-1939, appointed Count September 23, 1907) and dated December 1907, confirming that this box was included in the Zeshin-o Isaku Tenrankai 是真翁遺作展覧会 (Zeshin Memorial Exhibition) held in 1907.

Bonhams. AUCTION 23269: FINE JAPANESE ART, 11:00 BST - LONDON, NEW BOND STREET