A BLACK-LACQUER FOUR-TIERED JŪBAKO (SET OF STACKING BOXES)
Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, early 20th century
The square tiered box with inrōbuta (flush-fitting lid) supported on four bracket feet, the exterior decorated in gold, silver, and red togidashi maki-e with embellishments of gold hirame flakes, kinpun powder, and okibirame foil mosaic against a polished black roiro ground, depicting a pheasant, tanpopo (dandelion), warabi (edible fern), sumire (violet), botan (peony), plum blossom, magnolia, and other flowers and birds, the reverse of the lid with butterflies in gold, brown, and red hiramaki-e , the exterior edges and interiors all finished in varying densities of gold hirame flakes, the interior edges matte gold fundame lacquer, unsigned ; with a wood storage box inscribed Maki-e kiji no zu jūbako (Tiered box with a maki-e picture of pheasants)
6 1/4in (15.8cm) high