PEN HOUSE

Breathtakingly Beautiful Vintage Japanese Maki-e Box with Tray inside. I believe that the box dates to the Late Meiji Period, late 1800?s. The scrolling gold Maki-e Tessen (clamatis) design is uninterrupted as leaves, blooms and vines continue from lid to box and back again. The lid lifts away to reveal a removable tray with beautiful, scrolling gold Maki-e at the corners. Beneath the tray is a large storage compartment. The original metal and silk Himo are intact. There is a repair to one corner of the lid which is solid and well done. There are some surface scratches and chips that have been retouched over the years that do not detract from the beauty of the box. The box measures approximately L11 ¾inches x W9 ¾inches x H8 ½inches. There are two pen trays that rest in the tray and they measure 10 ¾inches x 8 ½inches. There are three additional pen trays that rest in the compartment underneath which measure 11inches x 8 ¾inches. Each custom pen tray has 10 curved pen slots and is covered with black velvet all the way around so that the lacquer is not harmed. Each also has black ribbon tabs for easy removal from the box. This Pen Chest holds a total of 50 pens and it is priced at about half the value of the box itself. As I have said before to many of you, the sun and moon have to be aligned for a vintage piece to be considered for a pen chest. This one is really special. Please click Image for another view and allow time toload.