9th century
4.6 x 6.2 cm (1 13/16 x 2 7/16 in.)
Acquired from Kaikodo, New York.
Cast iron with localized areas of gilding; the interior of the box and cover lined with hammered silver purportedly designed by Miochin (1624-1642)
17th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood with Kōdaiji-style decoration in gold and silver utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground), e-nashiji (pictorial "pear-skinned" ground), and harigaki (linear incising) techniques; [modern] silver fittings
16th centuryJapaneseBox with mounted Plexiglas wheel and various sample materials
20th centuryBritishLacquer on wood with Kōdaiji-style decoration in gold utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design) and e-nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques; gilt-copper fittings
17th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold, silver, and sabi urushi (thick lacquer paste) utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground), and kanagai (sheet-gold appliqué) techniques, and with applied kirigane (cut gold and silver)
18th centuryJapaneseRed lacquer with gold paint
ChineseQingbai ware: molded porcelain with pale sky-blue glaze
13th centuryChineseLacquered wood with inlays of tortoiseshell, twisted wire, and metal filings
19th centuryKoreanIron or bronze with decoration applied in gold; with small cartouche on the cover reading "Kingakuji" and a maker's mark in gold on the base; the interior of box and cover lined with sheet gold, the linings cursorily engraved with landscapes
19th-20th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold, silver, and sabi urushi (thick lacquer paste) utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), and nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques, with applied kirigane (cut gold and silver) and with shibuchi (copper-silver alloy), brass, silver, and coral inlays; stone, metal, and enamel fittings
18th centuryJapaneseMetal
11th-13th centuryPersianMetal structure with plastic laminate
20th centuryBritish