ITEM# 5621
Japanese Meiji Miniature Jewelry cabinet box with Menuki

Japanese Meiji Miniature Jewelry cabinet box with Menuki.Menuki were placed under the tsuka ito to help with the grip of the sword. They were often elaborately decorated and featured a variety of designs A very nicely crafted miniature camphor wood parquetry cabinet that has had thirty one menuki appplied to the front, top and inside on the front of two drawers. The menuki have a variety of design including dragons, frogs with leaf umbrellas, boats, deer and florals. There are four main drawers. Three on the left side and one wide drawer at the bottom. On the right is a sliding panel that reveals two more small drawers inside. The sides and back are unadorned. The chest measures 7 and one half inches high by 7 and seven eighths inches wide by 4 and one quarter inches deep and is in excellent condition with nice old patina ( and a lot of dust in the crevices of the menuki). On the bottom of the wide drawer at the base of the chest we found that it had a beautiful inscription ( M.G. M. Spexarth Your birthday October 27, 1884 from Your Gus). We suspect the piece was brought back in the that period by some sailor or adventurer who had visiting Japan and bought the piece for his sweetheart. A lovely example of Victorian script in the inscription. Obviously the piece is from the early to mid 1880s in order to have been given as a treasure in 1884. To learn more about Menuki go to http://www.bugei.com/subcategory_87_1.htm

Thank you for your quick reply. I am really shocked at the price. I knew many people here wanted it, but probably figured I didn't know what I had and they wanted to buy it for nothing. I am glad I held on to it.
Thanks again!
- Ann N