Japanese Lacquered Papier Mache Box with Three Scholars victorian egg with check and also imparting a sense

and also imparting a sense of reverence toward them

I have since found others similar (including in museum collections) and know that it likely came from Guererro in Mexico

and what is with this giant hand she is holding out toward him

but still with the hand and sensibility of the maker wonderfully present

Japanese Lacquered Papier Mache Box with Three Scholars victorian egg with check and also imparting a senseThis may be my favorite lacquered box I've had and I've gathered a fair number of lacquer boxes! It's the patterns of the kimono of the three figures that really makes it for me so elegant, and with that gold just popping against the black ground. I especially love the gesture of the figure with unrolled scroll before him, and the figure to his right with serenely attentive expression and arms locked gracefully behind him. Really a striking box, and