BEST Japanese carved boxwood box ShiShi Lion Edo period 19thc. Tobacco inro

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BEST Japanese carved boxwood box ShiShi Lion Edo period 19thc. Tobacco inro:
$375.00

A fantastic Shi Shi Lion box of carved and negoro stained boxwood. Edo period Japan, early 19th century. It is an unusual form for a Japanese box, about the size of an inro but with a loosely hinged lid. I believe this may have been a Tobacco box from an early domestic smoking set. Wonderful character with grimacing teeth and furrowed brows. The eyes gilt and the reverse lacquered. The piece has wonderful patina from careful handling over generations. Striking and of the quality of the best netsuke / noh mask wood carving. Condition is quite good, there is an unnoticeable hairline behind the far side left cheek. A great piece from a Seattle estate. inro okimono meiji folk art mingei box lacquer netsuke original antique old takugawa tsubaSize: 4.25 x 3.25 inches