A FINE LACQUER SUZURIBAKO WITH A COCKEREL, HEN AND SHOCHIKUBAI Japan, 19th century Of rectangular form with canted edges, finely decorated in red, gold, silver, and black takamaki-e with a rooster and hen against an impressive and dense nashiji ground. The interior is decorated with the ‘three friends of winter' motif (shochikubai), the inside of the cover lacquered in gold and silver takamaki-e and hiramaki-e with kirikane, depicting a plum and pine tree and a stream with craggy rockwork, bamboo, and a bird preening itself on a rocky outpost, all against the same nashiji ground. The interior of the box fitted with a tray decorated with a further plum tree and another compartment with a rectangular inkstone, and a copper water dropper (suiteki). SIZE 22.5 x 20.3 x 4 cm Condition: Good condition with minor wear, some flaking and small associated losses to the lacquer, particularly to the edges which also show some crackling. One thin crack to the inside of the cover. Provenance: US private collection. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related suzuribako, likely from the same studio, of only slightly larger size, dated to the late 19th century (Meiji period), at Christie's, Japanese and Korean Art, 18 September 2007, New York, lot 240 (sold for 6,000 USD).