
Part of the Japan collection.

A medium-sized Namban coffer with a domed lid, delicately inlaid with mother-of-pearl and abundantly covered in gold and silver hira-maki-e. Particularly noteworthy are the two pearl sparrows decorating the lid and the swirling bands of golden arabesques that show the steady hand of an experienced painter. Most importantly though, the whole coffer remains in a remarkably pristine condition, a rarity amongst export lacquer from the eventful era that marks the transition from Momoyama into Edo. Furthermore, the original fittings include a lock with a trick mechanism that makes it harder for an unwanted visitor to lay hands on the coffer’s contents.

Each standing atop a flat rectangular base incised with scrolling vines, wearing short robes with cloud designs at the back as well as leaf-skirts. The one-horned oni further wearing a scaly undergarment covering the stomach, upper arms, and thighs, holding a baku coiled around his body, and with the mouth wide open revealing tongue and teeth. The two-horned oni with his bone-inlaid fangs is tearing a hole in its belly with both hands. Both show fierce expressions, their heads surmounted by a rising cloud base to hold the candle, one with a circular bone-inlaid fitting.

Decorated all around with mountain and lake scenes with buildings, flying cranes and geese, and growth of pine, bamboo and tree peony. All decorated in hiramaki-e and takamaki-e in gold and black and togidashi in shades of gold and brown, inside a band of brownish nashiji.