this large ribbed and cylindrical Japanese shell-game box with domed lid decorated overall with Maki-e (gold lacquered) foliate wreaths and stylized flower heads and incised brass mounts; raised on four splayed supports; good overall antique condition with even wear and rubbing to surface; some touch-ups to areas of missing lacquer; minor crack to underside of lid and inside bottom; now lacking rope.

each ovoid vase with raised decoration at the neck and adorned overall with raised medallions all on a pale blue ground with painted cloud scrolls; the vase flanked by applied ring handles; each marked on underside; the vases were vetted in 1992 by the curator of Japanese Ceramics at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum as well as the director of the Kyoto National Museum, and determined to be produced in Kyoto by the Fifth Family of Dohachi potters, circa 1880; a note was found inside from a U.S.