I have a hard time passing by a pretty lacquer box, or a nice snuff box (or, really, a good box in general), and this is I think is all of them. I really love the mix of patterns on the kimono of the woman, especially that striped skirt, which just pops (though the polka dotted ends of her obi are pretty great too! And her pink cheeks!) Her gold hair ornaments are wonderfully echoed in star-like bursts of blossoms on the tree branches behind her, with gold also used for the reeds and grasses at her feet.
I am pretty certain this lacquered papier mache box was made to be used as a snuff box and dates to the late 19th or very early 20th century. I assume it was made in Japan for Western export. It is in very good condition, with almost no loss of lacquer, just a bit of loss of gold on her fan and a few other minor scrapes here and there. 3 3/4" x 2 5/8" x 1 1/16".
