Stacked food container with 'Three Friends of Winter'...

A charming five-tiered lacquer stacking food box 重箱 (jûbako) with two covers, decorated in shades of gold hiramaki-e 平蒔絵 (low-relief lacquer design) on a glossy black lacquer ground. The decoration extends across the tiers in a continuous composition of pine trees 松 (matsu), plum blossoms 梅 (ume) and bamboo 竹 (take), together forming the auspicious Three Friends of Winter 歳寒三友 (saikan sanyû). The rims are finished in fundame 粉溜, while the interiors are lacquered in vermilion red. Complete with its red-lacquered wooden storage box 箱 (hako). Period: Japan – Meiji period (1868–1912). Dimensions: Height 43.5 cm, Width 24.5 cm, Depth 22.8 cm. In good antique condition with traces of wear consistent with age, including small chips to some corners and edges and minor old restorations. Two of the tiers are of matching size and decoration but do not continue the main composition, suggesting that they were added from a closely related set. Please refer to the photographs for a clear impression of the condition.

Estimate:$447.84

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