An inlaid black-lacquer box with en-suite cover The inlay attributed to Hirata Shigekata, 18th century Of deep rectangular form with indented corners, bearing a roiro ground, inlaid with a standing nobleman in pale wood, his robe lacquered with kikumon (chrysanthemum crests) and karakusa ('Chinese grasses') and with details of copper, dark wood and shell, a kakejuku (hanging scroll) to the left, decorated with an oni playing a shamisen, inlaid in shibuichi, gilt metal and copper, the mount of cloisonné-enamel with a cloud design, the interior of nashiji, inlaid in Shibayama-style with a wheeled elephant toy, a play ball and a battledore, in ivory, metal and lacquer; signed on an inlaid silver tablet Hirata Shigekata. 12.7cm x 18.5cm x 13.4cm (5in x 7¼in x 5¼in) (2). Footnotes: リザーブ設定無し 貴人に掛物図象牙七宝象嵌貼付彫金蒔絵箱　銘「平田重賢」　18世紀 Provenance: purchased from Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1982. Wrangham collection, no.1617. Published: E. A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists, 1995, p.236, Shigekata, Hirata. Hirata Shigekata was the fourth master of the Hirata Family School of metalworkers and enamellers and died in 1714, although the work on the present example appears to be later. It is possible that the kakemono formed part of the decoration on another work and was added to the box shown here. The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art: Part IV, lot 344. www.bonhams.com/auctions/20493/lot/344/ Lot to be sold without reserve. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Ф Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13. Ф This lot contains or is made of ivory. The United States Government has banned the import of ivory into the USA. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com