Japanese gold lacquer tray with cherry blossoms Meiji period

Japanese gold lacquer rectangular tray worked in gold hiramaki-e, takamaki-e and gold flaked nashiji decorated with weeping cherry blossom trees (shidare-zakura枝垂れ桜) by a river bank and swallows (tsubame 燕) in flight above, raised on four bracket supports. The underside of rich nashiji with tomobako wood storage box, Meiji period (1868-1912).

The elegant cherry blossom symbolises love, transience, and the passage of time. The swallow is symbolic of good luck and fidelity.

Reference:

Hiramakie: a flat sprinkled lacquer technique where the design is raised above the ground only by the thickness of its coats of lacquer.

Takamakie: a high sprinkled lacquer technique where the lacquer is built up by applying many layers.

Nashiji: irregular flakes of gold sprinkled in clear or yellowish lacquer.

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