206 BCE - 220 CE
H. 2.9 x Diam. 4.1 cm (1 1/8 x 1 5/8 in.)
Tortoise shell
18th centuryFrenchLacquer on wood with decoration in gold, silver, and sabi urushi (thick lacquer paste) utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), and nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques, with applied kirigane (cut gold and silver) and originally with inlays [now lost]; stone and metal fittings
16th-17th centuryJapaneseMaki-e lacquer
19th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood
19th centuryThaiTemmoku-type ware: light gray stoneware with black glaze, the decoration painted in overglaze iron-brown slip
20th centuryJapaneseMetal
18th-19th centuryRussianHuangpu ware: light gray stoneware covered all over with white slip, the decoration painted in localized areas of discontinuous dark brown glaze. From the Huangpu kilns, Tongchuan, Shaanxi province
9th centuryChineseLacquer
JapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold, silver, lacquer paste, lead, ceramic and shell inlays; stone and metal fittings
18th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood
JapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold, silver, and aokin (gold-silver) utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), togidashi maki-e (sprinkled design revealed by polishing), nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground), and e-nashiji (pictorial "pear-skinned" ground) techniques; gilt-copper fittings [tray with decoration of cranes in takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design) may be a later replacement]
18th centuryJapanesePorcelain with enamels and gold
19th centuryGerman