Elegant gold-lacquered wooden comb and hairpin decorated in maki-e with landscapes and animals.
The comb is decorated on one side with pavilions in a landscape and on the other side with two swimming turtles. The decoration on the hairpin echoes the style of the comb, forming a coherent whole. The two ends of the hairpin are decorated on one side with pavilions in a landscape of mountains and trees and on the other side with three swimming turtles, two on one side, one large and one small, and one on the other. A fine engraving depicts the flow of water. The central handle is made of wood.
In Japan, tortoise is a symbol of luck and longevity, it is thought to be a creature of good omen supposed to bring 10 000 years of happiness. This animal is associated with numerous myths, the most popular dating back to the Nihon-Shoki, an antique tale of Japan and its dynasty. The legend of Urashima Taro tells the story of a man that saves a baby tortoise. To thank him, the mother of the surviving tortoise invites him in their underwater kingdom.

Blue fabric-covered storage box.
Japan – Meiji era
Comb : Height : 4 cm – Width : 10,5 cm
Hairpin : Height : 1,5 cm – Width : 15 cm