Join The Collection to save, track, and explore works like this.

A gold tebako [cosmetic box] — Edo period, 17th century

A gold tebako [cosmetic box]

Edo period, 17th century

A gold rectangular cosmetic box (tebako) from the 17th century Edo period with engraved gold sheets, featuring Tokugawa mon crests and decorative lightning bolt patterns. The interior is lined with silk brocade decorated with peony sprays and karakusa designs.

Medium
the rectangular box with rounded corners, flush-fitting cover, the wood base applied with engraved gold sheets, the top of the cover with a shaped panel of Tokugawa mon (crests) on a lattice of stylised lightning bolts (raimontsunagi) ground, the sides similarly decorated with Tokugawa mon against a raimon-tsunagi design, the borders with shippo design, fitted with two ring-fittings engraved with seven Tokugawa mon, the inside of the cover with peony sprays scattered against hanabishi (flower-lattice design), the interior of the box lined with silk brocade with peony and karakusa design, with silk cords and a fitted box with an inscription Kin-ryomoku ropphyaku kyujuku monme (weight of gold 699 mace)
Spotted At
Auction House · Sotheby's

🔨 Auction Lot

Pursuit of an Ideal: Fine Japanese Works of Art

October 26, 2021

Estimate: $70,000 – $100,000

Lot 80

Start the Discussion

Request access to join the discussion

About this work

A gold tebako [cosmetic box], Edo period, 17th century

A gold rectangular cosmetic box (tebako) from the 17th century Edo period with engraved gold sheets, featuring Tokugawa mon crests and decorative lightning bolt patterns. The interior is lined with silk brocade decorated with peony sprays and karakusa designs.

Medium
the rectangular box with rounded corners, flush-fitting cover, the wood base applied with engraved gold sheets, the top of the cover with a shaped panel of Tokugawa mon (crests) on a lattice of stylised lightning bolts (raimontsunagi) ground, the sides similarly decorated with Tokugawa mon against a raimon-tsunagi design, the borders with shippo design, fitted with two ring-fittings engraved with seven Tokugawa mon, the inside of the cover with peony sprays scattered against hanabishi (flower-lattice design), the interior of the box lined with silk brocade with peony and karakusa design, with silk cords and a fitted box with an inscription Kin-ryomoku ropphyaku kyujuku monme (weight of gold 699 mace)
Seen at
Sotheby's, New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris

Related themes

Gold, Lacquerware, Cosmetic Box, Japanese, Decorative Arts, Edo Period, Tokugawa, 17th Century