As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are delighted to offer this unusual Meiji Period (1868-1912) iron and mixed metal box by arguably the most coveted of the nunomezogan specialist studios of the late 19th century, Kajima Ikkoku, a family business spanning four generations. This fan shaped iron box is finely decorated to the lid with a plump little sparrow sat on a branch feeding upon the berries, the delightful subject matter crafted in mixed soft alloys including gold, silver and bronze, the exterior of the box is finely decorated in gold nunomezogan upon a plain iron ground, the unusual subject matter consists of a praying mantis aside bamboo and berries to one end, a butterfly in flight amidst flora to the other and most unusually a pair of crabs crawling upon ferns to the rear elevation. The front concave section bears the rather lavish gold signature that translates to Ikkokusai Mitsuyuki, lifting the lid reveals a sumptuos gilt lined interior. A lovely fan shaped ...