Japan, 19th centuryOf rectangular form with rounded corners, supported on four bracket feet. Finely decorated in gold and iro-e takamaki-e as well as gold and silver hiramaki-e to the cover with a classic depiction of a shishi mother throwing her offspring off a cliff, the scrappy cub appearing to have survived and snarling at its mother, their crystal eyes with painted pupils, both standing on rocky outcrops and surrounded by large flowering peonies. The interior of the cover with six butterflies, all against a wood ground, the interior sides of the cover and interior of the box with nashiji and fundame edges, the underside with nashiji as well.SIZE 23.6 x 20.6 x 4 cmCondition: Overall good condition with old wear, minor natural age cracks and splits to corners, some with old repairs and minor touchups, few small chips to edges, the interior tray is lost.Provenance: French private collection.Legend has it that the shishi tested the vigor of their young by throwing the young ones from the top of a cliff (shishi no saka otoshi). Longevity was assured if the animal survived.