C.W. Schumann & Sons Engraved SP Gift Box, Japan

This is 2 9/16" square, ~1" high; it weighs ~3.9 oz. The silver-plating is almost totally gone. The bottom is dead-flat an' unmarked. It is hand-engraved (I can find no artist's signature) on the 4 edges with simple foliage, blossom an' fruit scenes; the top seems to show a person (child?) with very long straight hair holding a large disc or vessel (mirror?) to their lips with both hands, with their right foot providing balance; there is a large urn to the left. The scene appears to be overlooking wavy water. The metal is a brass alloy, bronze or paktong; the lower part has a thin, narrow lip that fits perfectly within the cover. All construction an' embellishment details speak to high skill in the artisan(s). The business (Schumann) began in the late 19th C; it ended about 1946.
This is mostly an eye-candy post for your delight, but I would like to know the story behind the scene on the cover...if there is one! Thanks for lookin'!

 

Union Square wasn't fashionable all that time and the Schumann's moved up to lower Fifth. In 1910, according to this.

https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot....rles-schumann-sons-store.html#google_vignette

Debora

 

That is so sweet. Those long-haired people/creatures feature in Japanese folklore and in Noh theatre. Looks like he is trying to drag the sun down to earth, or maybe a mirror?

I have seen this style engraving on Japanese cigarette cases, so maybe the box was imported and fitted with velvet and satin for the retailer. Just like there used to be Japanese lacquer boxes imported as gift boxes for bonbons and perfume.

 

What a delightful vignette of their history...Thanks, Debora!

 

I had overlooked the Noh aspect, AJ...Thanks!

 

Sweet! If you ever sell it, as if, make sure the anime fans see it. Japanese illustrator art junkies would be all over it.

 

It looks Japanese to me too. I see a water themed scene, with the ocean and a large water jar. The long-haired figure looks to me to be in the act of drinking, but agree it looks more like the moon than like any vessel. Of course the moon also has connections to water. Delightful.

 

isn't that a water jar & ladle on the left of the human..

 

I get the jar...but the ladle is a stretch, 'tho I see what you say...how do you ID that as a water jar?
Ah...IF ladle, then Water Jar!

Hah! At my age, most everything is for sale, Evely...I don't know a single thing about anime, an' wonder how to get those folks' attention in an eBay listing. Thanks for the tip!

 

If you can track down the proper name of the little long-haired person and put that in the title, you should be golden.

 

it's more or less what I see !

 

I didn't see it either, until komo showed the ladle he meant & I enlarged the pic of the box. The bowl is floating on the surface of the water inside the jar, with the handle sticking out, blending in with the plant leaves.

 

yup !

 

Or rice wine? Which could be why the little hairy creature looks like it is guzzling it in like that.

 

Yes! That vessel being held to their lips could be a stylized depiction of the shallow hemispherical Sake cup that is often used, perhaps in some formal ritual or setting...I have 2 of them, one of which I have shown in a post in Silver some time ago*.
Now on to naming the Guzzler! Thanks!

Edit:
* https://www.antiquers.com/threads/j...-gold-interior-with-hachisuka-clan-mon.89652/

 

Makes sense.

Judging from the size of the cup it must be a very small Guzzler. Maybe the Japanese equivalent of a leprechaun.

 

artistic licence , showing a great deal of guzzling !! perhaps ?

 

A small person with a really large alcohol tolerance?