A FINE GOLD LACQUER SIX-LOBED KOBAKO AND COVERJapan, mid-19th century to Meiji period (1868-1912)The kinji ground finely decorated in black, red, and gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e to depict a textile with hanabishi (lit. flowery diamonds) ground, the cover further with a lacquer storage box for playing cards (karuta) with dense foliate designs and a beautiful red cord wrapped around it, as well as chrysanthemum sprays and a folding fan, the interior and base with nashiji, the interior edges of gold fundame.DIAMETER 10.6 cmCondition: Good condition with minor wear, a small chip to the interior rim of the box, few tiny nicks to edges, light surface scratches to base.Provenance: The Ankarcrona Collection of Japanese Works of Art. Old inventory labels to base. Sten Ankarcrona (1861–1936) began collecting upon his first visit to Japan in the late 1880s, at the beginning of the golden age of travel and collecting in Europe. The young aristocratic Swedish naval officer became fascinated by the breadth of artistic production in the region and continued to add to his collection back in Europe. In 1923, by then an admiral, he was appointed by the King of Sweden to travel back to Japan on a special mission, where he spent two months making many more purchases. His love of Asian art was later passed down to his children and grandchildren, who have enriched the family collection during their own visits to Japan throughout the second half of the 20th century. Notes RefButton4