Japanese gold lacquer document box, box (bunko) decorated on a nashiji (sprinkled) background with groups of horses, the eyes are inlaid with black coral and tortoise shell, interior of box cover is decorated with two cranes in flight above pine, prunus and bamboo trees beside a stream, lacquer in deep relief work (takamaki-e and hiramaki-e), the tray inside with fundame rims and gold sprinkled (nashiji) front and back rests on the top portion of the box, unsigned, 19th century, original receipts available. Height 17 cm. Length 37 cm. Width 29 cm. Provenance: ex: Ashkenazie & Company, Private Collection, Sydney, labels: 'Document boxes of this size and quality of workmanship are rare and seldom seen. The document box, because of important messages carried inside, are among the rarest and most important subjects in Japanese lacquer Art'