An export lacquer chest
Momoyama period (late 16th century)
Rectangular with a drop front door containing seven drawers and a central locking compartment, decorated in two shades of gold and silver hiramakie and inlaid mother-of-pearl, designed on the exterior top and sides with diamonds containing flowering tachibana plants within a scattered mother-of-pearl ground or contained in a rectangular reserve with four family crests and bordered by additional family crests on a mother-of-pearl ground, the exterior of the door with a diamond divided into four panels each with a butterfly within a rectangular shagreen reserve, the surrounding areas crushed mother-of-pearl with family crests at the corners and bordered by stylized chrysanthemum and mother-of-pearl geometric patterns, the back decorated with leafy tendrils, the interior of the door shagreen covered in black lacquer with a mother-of-pearl and flower head border, drawers all decorated with crushed mother-of-pearl and lacquered on the edges with scrolling vines, the frames alternating mother-of-pearl and lacquer chevrons, hardware carved with vines, lock plate and hinges later replacement, the box set on a later base; with key
20 1/2 x 14 1/4 x 13 7/8in (52.1 x 36.2 x 35.2cm)
