Inro Islanders harvesting branches of coral. Kanshosai Toju. Japan Edo

Rare and important four-case inlaid-lacquer inro, decorated in gold, silver and reddish-brown lacquer with highlights of kirigane with South Sea Islanders harvesting branches of coral in inlays of colored lacquer, gold wire and coral, the interior cases in nashiji lacquer. Signed : Gyonen rokujuana o Toyo (Toyo, aged 67). With the artist’s Kao.
Japan Edo 19th century
Provenance : collection of Dr.Henry Guinness de Laszlo (1901 - 1967)

A similiar scene could be found on a suzuribako in collection Lewis (see : E.Lewis, Shadows and reflections : Japanese Lacquer Art from the collection of Edmound J. Lewis collection at The Honolulu Academy Of Arts, 2004, Suzuribako with Coral Reef)
An Inro in British Museum presenting the same subject (inv.1981.0203.106).

Height : 9.5 cm