Gold lacquer box. Kobako. Chrysanthemum decoration, Japan Edo period

The box is made of wood lacquered with gold and silver powder, the decoration represents calm winding rivers lined with trees, rocks and plants, the patterns are sometimes treated flat (Hiramaki-é) and sometimes in relief (takamaki-e) the mosaic details of gold squares (kirikane) give relief to the sandbanks and rocks. The box opens with a door leading to 3 drawers, the interior is entirely covered with lovely Hiramaki-e flowers in three shades of gold, yellow gold, green gold and pink gold, some flowers are in silver for a harmonious play of colors. The rare kodansu of this optimal quality are always small 8 to 10cm the one presented here with its 25cm is of exceptional dimensions. We have not found anything equivalent.
There is no signature as sometimes on exceptional Japanese art objects, whereas in the 19th century artists signed almost all their creations, even the most mediocre. There are several theories explaining this fact. The most simplistic would be that these objects were often offered and kept in a box, the name of the artist written on the box was enough. The second most credible is that depending on the importance of the sponsor it was unthinkable that a simple artist, whoever he was, would have the impertinence to affix his signature. Finally, the third more subtly Japanese would be that the master did not need to sign his work, he alone being capable of the perfection of his execution.
The silver mounts are finely chiseled, a slight irregular amati imitates a reptile skin. The interiors are lacquered with a rich, perfectly regular nashiji.
Excellent state of conservation for a lacquer that is more than a hundred years old and so fragile. Two accidents to report. A round dent of 1mm and a scratched part, both without loss of color. We have materialized these 2 accidents on the photos.
25x21x18cm
This is an exceptional object deserving to appear in the greatest collections.
Let us keep in mind the famous proverb:
"If a good collector has 1000 objects,
a Great collector has only one left".