A gold-lacquer rectangular rounded kobako (small box) and cover


By Miatamura Jiho (1886-1979), Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa era (1926-1989), early/mid-20th centuryThe flush-fitting cover decorated in gold hiramaki-e, kirikane and takamaki-e with the shochikubai (pine, plum and bamboo: 'The Three Friends' of winter) growing from two hilly promontories, the interior of the cover and box lacquered in gold mura-nashiji and togidashi maki-e with stylised cranes in flight, the underside of rich nashiji, the rims of silver, signed inside the cover in gold lacquer Jiho saku; with a wood storage box. 5.8cm x 12.6cm x 10cm (2¼in x 5in x 4in). (3).
|A native of Tokyo, Mitamura Jiho studied under the leading lacquerer Akatsuka Jitoku (1871-1936) from age 14 and received the first prize of the Shikko Seinenkai (Japanese Lacquer Youth Association) in 1905. He was a regular exhibitor at the Teiten and Nitten official national exhibitions, from 1928 to 1944 and 1949 to 1956 respectively, on one occasion receiving the tokusen (highest honours) at the Teiten.