A fine imperial lacquer set of writing implement box and cover (suzuribako), document box and cover (ryoshibako) and writing table (bundai) circa 1886

decorated in gold hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, kirigane, kanegai, nashi-ji, kimpun and gold foil with flowering cherry trees within a mountainous landscape and a stream, the interior of the cover decorated in the similar manner with red lacquer accents, with young pines and flowering cherry trees on hills on a nashi-ji ground, the writing box fitted with an ink stone, ink knife, ink pick, brushes and a silver water dropper shaped as cherry blossoms, the table with farmer's huts and bridge near a cascading waterfall overlooking hills of flowering cherry blossoms, the underside in mura-nashi-ji, on four elegantly shaped bracket feet decorated with cherry trees above a stream, the shibuichi metal mounts carved with cherry blossoms and leaf scrolls, writing box and document box fitted with storage boxes inscribed Yama ni sakura takamaki-e, On suzuribako, various seals, one indicating no. 33 and another no. 107 and dated Meiji 19 (corresponding to 1886), the interior with a label describing the title, size and the content as no. 107 (5)

His Imperial Highness, Emperor Meiji, 1886.
His Imperial Highness, Emperor Hirohito, by descent.
By presentation to a private collector, Washington.
Sotheby's New York, 13th May 1983, lots 146, 147 and 148.

Brooklyn Museum, "A Family Album: Brooklyn Collectors," 2001

Amy G. Poster, "Brooklyn Collectors of Asian Art," Orientations, March 2001, fig. 1, p. 108.