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Kodansu (Small Chest)

CultureJapanese
DateLate 19th century
Mediumlacquer over wooden based with gold, silver, and metal decoration, inlays of abalone, gold, and silver, nashiji (pear skin) interior, red negoro lacquer, and cast and engraved silver elements
Dimensions6 × 7 1/4 × 5 in. (15.2 × 18.4 × 12.7 cm)
Classificationsfurnishings & equipment
Credit LineGift of the William E. Shipp Estate, by exchange
Terms
    Object number2016.11.1a-d
    DescriptionKodansu (small cabinet) with three drawers and a hinged door; wood base; decorated in gold, silver, aokin, and colored hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and togidashi maki-e, with details in shell, gold, and silver inlay and gold kirigane, on a polished black-lacquer ground; the exterior with a late-summer scene of leaves and blossoms of omodaka (water plantain or Chinese arrowhead) and fireflies by a stream; the interior of the door with a fan and a firefly cage; the fronts of the drawers with contrasting geometric-ground designs; the interiors of the drawers gold nashiji; the carrying handle, hinges, lock plate, and drawer-pulls silver; the hinges and lock plate engraved with plant scrolls on a stippled background.
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