256 - Rectangular box carved with landscape, Meiji Japanese art, 19th century

Rectangular box carved with landscape, Meiji Japanese art, 19th century Rectangular box of finely carved ivory. Measures 18 x 11 x 5 cm. A sumptuous piece whose lid features an elaborate Japanese rural landscape sculpted in high relief, composed of a thatched house, trees with twisted trunks, rocks, and stepped hills that create a sense of spatial depth. The scene is harmoniously arranged, with a visual rhythm guided by the overlapping planes of the terrain and vegetation, evoking the contemplative aesthetic of the traditional Japanese landscape. The composition is framed by a border of classically inspired fretwork that provides balance and reinforces the ornamental character of the object. The ivory has a warm and homogeneous patina, the result of the passage of time. On the reverse, the signature and seal, engraved and inked in Japanese characters, are visible, belonging to the artist Chikuzan, and confirmed by a square workshop stamp. The piece is fully a product of the refined production of the Meiji period, a time marked by technical mastery and the appreciation of meticulous sculptural work.