Hand-painted Gold on Black Japanese Lacquer Box with Figure, Signed folk art carver with that round and deep

with that round and deep lower half offset by its dramatically sloping lid which doubles as a handle

Joined by nails at corners and bottom and structurally super sound

a church which continues to operate today

The bowl measures 3 3/4" tall x 5 1/2" at widest diameter

Hand-painted Gold on Black Japanese Lacquer Box with Figure, Signed folk art carver with that round and deepI love a good lacquer box, and really love the imagery on this one, with this serene looking cross legged figure, a monk I assume, holding up a brush in one hand and flag like page in the other, painted with what I'd assume is the kanji or signature of its maker. And then those great trees and islands in the background, with abstracted bird flying overhead. I assume this lacquered papier mache box is early 20th century Japanese. The interior is a deep