Elegant rectangular kobako decorated in nashiji lacquer on a black ground. The lid features a delicate landscape scene depicting a pavilion—possibly a small castle—set beside a river winding through karstic formations. Executed in gold lacquer with subtle relief effects, the decoration reflects the refined craftsmanship characteristic of the Meiji period, known for its technical virtuosity and meticulous sense of detail.
On two of the side panels, the front and the left, unfolds a second riverbank landscape: reeds growing along the shore and two boats pulled up on land. These vessels are rendered in burgo (a lacquer technique imitating woven patterns), the gold-lacquered basket-weave motif adding both texture and realism to the composition.
The interior of the box and the underside of the lid are finished in nashiji on a gold ground, creating a luminous contrast with the darker exterior and underscoring the object’s high quality.
A representative piece of late 19th-century Japanese craftsmanship, combining technical sophistication with the poetic elegance of landscape imagery.

Japan – Meiji period (1868–1912)
Height: 5 cm – Length: 13.5 cm – Width: 10.5 cm