A LACQUER SUZURIBAKOO DEPICTING BLOSSOMING BELLFLOWERS (KIKYO) AND MAPLE LEAVESJapan, 19th centuryOf rounded rectangular form, with silver rims and an overhanging cover. The exterior with a lustrous roiro ground finely decorated in gold, silver, and red hiramaki-e and subtle gold takamaki-e to depict a gnarled branch bearing leaves, buds, and blossoms of bellflower (kikyo). The interior of the cover with a crimson-red ground richly decorated in gold and colored hiramaki-e with superb inlays of mother-of-pearl and gold foil to depict scattered colorful maple leaves and a swirling stream, the box fitted with two similarly decorated trays, one of which is fitted with a rectangular inkstone (suzuri) and a moon-shaped silver waterdropper (suiteki), further with an incised and inscribed blade and an engraver, both with handles and covers lacquered in roiro with nashiji and decorated in shades of gold hiramaki-e with stylized bellflower blossoms and maple leaves. The base both on the exterior and interior of roiro with sparse nashiji.SIZE 4.5 x 21.3 x 24.7 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, the inkstone with a minor chip.Provenance: Ex-collection Shep Brozman, New York.The bellflower is called kikyo in Japanese. Traditionally, it is one of the Seven Autumn Flowers. In addition, the ‘Bellflower Seal’ (kikyo mon) is the crest (kamon) of some clans. The maple likewise signifies the arrival of autumn, momiji is the word for the maple leaves tinted of red in the fall, while koyo designates the natural process of the leaves changing colors in autumn.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.