Featured Japanese lacquered box-help with age

Hi all,

I’m now eyeing on this beautiful box shaped as a fan with quails painted on it. I have found Japanese stuff harder to date than antiques of other countries that I’ve come across. These lacquerware are made in traditional way through the centuries and it’s really difficult for amateur collectors like me to tell how old it is. Do you have any suggestions on it? Happy to learn more!

But either way, I guess I am still buying it as it’s a lovely box regardless of the age. But the older the better!

 

PS: it’s 17cm in length

 

Lovely box, shammie. Imo it is Meiji period, ca 1880-1900.
The technique is called maki-e, the raised lacquer is a variation on maki-e called takamaki-e.
Hope this helps you decide.

As an aside: I collect fans, and the Japanese so generously display them on everything. Thank you Japan.

 

Thank you AJ wow, I actually don’t expect it to be an antique, it looks so crispy and clean as if made last week. But I’ve heard how Japanese people are good at preserving their old stuff, i.e. if you order a second-hand book listed as ‘good’ from Japanese site, you likely will get a as-new copy, but ordering from US site, well…(I happened to have both)

Fan is usually not my thing as a Chinese growing up with fans everywhere in daily life. But seeing something else shaped as fan is refreshing

 

@808 raver I wonder about your opinion on Japanese lacquered box. Will you be interested in collecting?

 

It became my thing when my grandmother gave me her old fans. They used to be everywhere here too, and she had daily fans, separate dance lesson fans, a fan for going to balls, etc.

 

the birds r 2 cute !!

 

I think they are quails.

 

They are very often found in East Asian art. Another Japanese example:

 

Great point Sham-Those things we see everyday,so ordinary they almost become invisible.
Then DragonflyWink shows up with Spoons !
PS-Now I have to examine the used utensil sections at the thrifts- Oy Vey !

 

Quails in Chinese have a syllabus similar to the letter meaning “safe and sound “, that’s why they are loved. Japanese likely followed that tradition. But regardless of that, they are just adorable fluffy chicks no one would say no

 

You have many here

 

That's a really fine an' lovely box, Sham...Japanese lacquer is ordinarily exquisite, your Meiji example is sublime...Thanks!

 

And don’t forget Japanese quails…

 

And don’t forget Japanese quails…

 

Lovely box -- looks good quality and I heart quails. They are fairly common around here (PNW) but have the little anntenna on top!

 

We saw huge amounts of them in California-quite cute. Quails and CA poppies are unofficial state logos.

 

Just did a quick search… almost like a mini peacock!

 

I could not have resisted buying this lovely thing! Black lacquer, fan motif, gold, maki-e, and quail too? I have almost a gigabyte of California Quail pictures and videos, they’re irresistibly adorable IMNSHO, and so now I have a soft spot for all quail.

I’ve also been lusting after one of the Namiki maki-e fountain pens since my days selling them. Tiny luscious pieces of art (wipes drool off chin). Keep an eye out for them; periodically they show up in thrift stores/charity shops dirt cheap, as they are mistaken for plastic… just not for me
https://www.pilot-namiki.com/en/

 

You just remind me of these pens I had when I was a kid… also from Japan with maki-e, much simpler and cheaper, yet luxurious for me at that time! Used them a lot & the maki-e still looks fine on them!