Antique Japanese Silver Trinket Box, Floral Mixed-Metal Lid

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Description

Japanese rectangular silver box with a removable lid featuring finely engraved Flowers, foliage, and grasses against a dark metal background. … Read more Japanese rectangular silver box with a removable lid featuring finely engraved Flowers, foliage, and grasses against a dark metal background. A raised central blossom and gold-colored accents add contrast to the botanical design. The silver body is stamped in characters meaning "made of pure silver". Provisionally attributed to Shobido of Osaka. The decorative lid bears an engraved artist's signature and a small seal. The artist remains unidentified; the mark does not clearly read Jungjn and a possible reading of Shoitsu and not been confirmed.

The box measures 3" by 4" and is 1" deep. Lid is most likely traditional Japanese shakudo, alloy of copper and gold treated chemically to produce the velvety, blue/black finish. The inlay is a relief scene of autumn grasses with flush-set gold colored inlays representing smaller flora. There is also a high-relief sculpted silver colored flower applied directly to the surface. See less