LARGE LIDDED BOX – “HOKKAI BAKO” or “box on legs”, in lacquer enhanced with chiselled copper fittings, decorated in gold hiramaki-e on a black ground with the “yoroicho mon” and the “hidari mitsu fuji domoye mon” motifs, among the “three friends of winter” (pine, plum and bamboo); the cylindrical, ringed sides and the lid are similarly decorated, with the four legs rising up the sides of the body. (Restored; with losses, wear and minor damage, including lacquer losses). Japan, late Meiji period, c. 1900. A LARGE BLACK AND GOLD LACQUERED WOODEN ‘HOKKAI BAKO’ BOX AND COVER, JAPAN, LATE MEIJI PERIOD, CA. 1900. HEIGHT 46.5 CM (18 5/16 IN.) – DIAMETER (MAX) 41 CM (16 9/64 IN.) NOTE ‘Hokkai-bako’ were originally luxury boxes for food taken on outings, to ceremonies or weddings. Later, they were also used to store the shells used in the game ‘kai-awase’, which was popular amongst the aristocracy. Finally, these boxes were often part of a bride’s trousseau, used to carry clothes, sweets or accessories.