13 - JAPAN - 20th century

JAPAN - 20th century A set of two black-lacquered display trays (広蓋, hirobuta), decorated with an arrangement of auspicious treasures (宝物, takaramono) traditionally associated with the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (七福神, Shichifukujin). The surface is dotted with a variety of symbolic objects, including a large treasure bag, a magic mallet, gold coins and ingots, a key, scrolls, a fan, a wide-brimmed hat, and branches of precious coral. The design is finely executed in hiramaki-e 平蒔絵 (bas-relief lacquer) and takamaki-e 高蒔絵 (high-relief lacquer), using various shades of gold and silver on a black lacquer background Housed in a black lacquered wooden storage box (hako). Dimensions: Large tray: length 60.6 cm; width 42.7 cm; height 8.5 cm. Small tray: length 57.5 cm; width 39.6 cm; height 7.4 cm.