Lot 142. A tebako [cosmetic box], Edo period, 17th century; 25.7 x 32.2 x 21.5 cm., 9 7/8  x 12 5/8  x 8 1/4  in. Estimate £200,000 — 300,000. Courtesy Sotheby's.

the rectangular box with rounded corners, flush-fitting cover, the wood base applied with engraved gold sheets, the top of the cover with a shaped panel of Tokugawa mon (crests) on a lattice of stylised lightning bolts (raimontsunagi) ground, the sides similarly decorated with Tokugawa mon against a raimon-tsunagi design, the borders with shippo design, fitted with two ring-fittings engraved with seven Tokugawa mon, the inside of the cover with peony sprays scattered against hanabishi (flower-lattice design), the interior of the box lined with silk brocade with peony and karakusa design, with silk cords and a fitted box with an inscription Kin-ryomoku ropphyaku kyujuku monme (weight of gold 699 mace). 

Exhibited: The Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya, Japan, Periodically (every 10 years);
House Library, the Tokugawa Art Museum, Owari Tokugawa-ke no kingin chodo, 10th November 2010-12th December 2010, no. 22.