**Originally Listed At $1500**

East Asia, Japan/Ryukyu Islands, Edo Period, Ryukyu Kingdom, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. A striking lacquered box with mother-of-pearl inlay and goldfoil painting (known as hakue), and a matching tray. The crushed mother-of-pearl inlay gleams with a rainbow iridescence, in contrast to the goldfoil, which depicts a squash plant with several wide leaves and a vine that wraps around the red-lacquered edges of the lid and down onto one side of the box. There are also two smaller leaves made from a creamy butter-colored shell. The interior of the box, its base, and the base and center of the tray are all black lacquer. Box lids with recessed sides are a hallmark of Ryukyu lacquerware from the Edo Period. Size of tray: 4.95" L x 5.8" W x 0.45" H (12.6 cm x 14.7 cm x 1.1 cm); size of box: 3.9" L x 4.6" W x 2.25" H (9.9 cm x 11.7 cm x 5.7 cm)

The Ryukyu Kingdom was a major part of the maritime trade networks in medieval Asia, with contacts that extended to the eastern coast of Africa. The kingdom began as a vassal state of Ming Dynasty China, and much of their artistic output was inspired by China. For example, Ryukyu artisans were already highly proficient at lacquerwork, which they used to waterproof ships, but they learned the techniques of mother-of-pearl inlay on a lacquer ground and "goldfoil" painting from China.

See a similar example sold at Christie's New York on September 14, 2011, for $11,875: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-ryukyu-mother-of-pearl-inlay-and-lacquer-box-5470900-details.aspx

Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection

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#126642

Light surface scratching on center of tray. One small area of repair on the lid that does not obscure any motifs. Light patina from age and handling.