A SPLENDID GOLD- AND RED-LACQUER DISPLAY CABINET

Description:

Japan, Meiji period
223 x 134 x 53 cm
The pedestal with finely carved frolicing shishi against a floral relief ground, topped with three drawers showing phoenixes on their fronts, a meandering band around the top. The main cabinet with various bird and shishi decorated drawers, the folding and sliding doors with low relief views of Kyoto, decorated with cloud-shaped friezes and dragon reliefs, topped with an openwork frieze depicting the 16 rakan with a dragon amidst clouds.
Former collection of Mia May (1884-1980), according to an old newspaper article gifted to her by "an admirer from the Japanese imperial family"
Partly minor damage due to age