A rare and beautifully preserved complete miniature lacquer tea and sweets cabinet from early 20th-century Japan.
The set is finished in traditional gold maki-e lacquer (a Japanese technique in which fine gold powder is sprinkled into wet lacquer) over a softly shimmering nashiji ground (a textured surface resembling gold dust). The pieces are decorated with a classical cherry blossom family crest known as a sakura kamon.
The cabinet contains a charming group of miniature tea utensils and sweet containers, all carefully fitted inside the main box.
At the center is a small lacquer teapot with a side handle (called a kyusu in Japan), lacquered both inside and out. The set also includes a pumpkin-shaped tea caddy with a pierced metal lid bearing the same crest, a small lacquer tea container, and a larger box holding nine miniature containers traditionally used for serving Japanese tea sweets.
Inside the main box are:
• three rectangular containers
• four square containers
• two round containers
Each container is finished internally in dark glossy lacquer.
Miniature lacquer cabinet sets such as this were produced by skilled lacquer workshops in Kyoto during the Taishō period (1912–1926). They were often created as elegant gift objects or collectors’ pieces that showcased the refined craftsmanship of Japanese lacquer artists.
Complete sets with all original interior elements are increasingly difficult to find today.
Approximate measurements:
Miniature teapot: height 47 mm
Pumpkin-form tea caddy: height 30 mm, width 31.5 mm
Small lacquer box: height 20.5 mm, width 26 mm, depth 20 mm
Large cabinet box: height 33 mm, width 76 mm, depth 67 mm
Condition:
Excellent antique condition with well-preserved lacquer surfaces and only minimal signs of age.
Origin:
Japan, Taishō period, circa 1912–1926
Materials:
Lacquer, wood, gold maki-e decoration, metal