Description A RARE BLACK AND GOLD LACQUER TONKOTSU DEPICTING A NEW YEAR'S SCENEUnsigned Japan, 19th centuryThe roiro ground lacquered in gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e to depict two Manzai dancers, one wearing an Okina mask and the other wearing a Hyottoko mask, the latter holding drum and the former wearing an eboshi and a ceremonial sword, all below shimenawa hangings (fern leaves, bitter oranges, dried gourds, and white ritual paper strips suspended from a sacred braided straw rope). The tonkotsu is further decorated with large pine saplings. The interior of the hinged cover splashed with red lacquer.LENGTH 9.5 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, one structural crack to the interior near the hinge, the interior with traces of use.Provenance: French private collection. Old label to underside, '115'.The Shimenawa 注連縄 serves to prevent bad spirits from entering sacred spaces such as shrines and to usher in the Toshigami 歳神, Shinto deity, to protect the new year to descend and stay.