This elegant box has grooved corners and a slightly domed lid.
It is decorated with reeds and with plovers flying above waves, in gold and aokin flat makie on a finely prepared aokin pear-skin ground.
Rectangular pieces of cut-gold foil have been carefully laid, followed by delicate makie lines. The interior and base have a densely applied fine powder pear-skin ground.
The box was probably a ready-made piece for the domestic market, 6.8cm.
The 1835 Burghley Inventory records: ‘Japan Closet, Japan in the Glass case opposite the door(s), sic, B. G A Box with two divisions.’
The 1867 Burghley Inventory records: ‘Cabinets, No 88 Japan Closet, A black and gold japan box with 2 divisions.’
