A RARE GILT-INLAID LACQUER FOUR-CASE INRO WITH LUNAR HARES, MOON, AND BENTEN Unsigned, the netsuke by Hakusen 白仙 Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of upright, rounded rectangular form, the roiro ground sprinkled densely with gold and silver lacquer save for a small area toward the top, alluding to the coming of the night (and thus to the moon), and decorated in gold takamaki-e with two lunar hares jumping over crashing waves with dew drops in silver takamaki-e. The reverse with a gilt-inlaid roundel in the shape of the full moon, finely incised in kebori and katakiri-bori with Benten wearing a phoenix headdress amid clouds. The interior with nashiji and gold fundame edges. With a coral ojime and wood netsuke depicting a female sage seated on a rock at a table with a small bowl (or sake saucer), the underside with a single himotoshi and signed HAKUSEN. HEIGHT 5.5 cm, WIDTH 6 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: French private collection.