As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are delighted to offer this finely decorated Meiji Period (1868-1912) hardwood display cabinet ( Shodana). This dense native hardwood cabinet has been designed to house a combination of sumptuous gold lacquer doors and drawers within the carved and pierced main carcass, some of the doors bowed adding to the complexity whilst others slide on runners. A fascinating array of scenes are brought to life with the clever use of lacquer and Shibayama decoration to the door and drawer fronts, unsually including a swordsmith at work to one main panel, demons, jovial bands of musicians, fans and birds within traditional ikebana displays form the basis of decoration for the remainder. The shelves are further decorated with complex fretwork depicting ivory birds in flight amidst mother of pearl flora, with fine ivory shi shi as guardians to the central featured area, the remainder of the carcass either blind fret carved or once again gold lacquer d...