SAGEDANSU small rectangular incense box with profiled edges (karatomen), in lacquer with a nashiji base, decorated in usuniku-takamaki-e gold, red, black and silver with gold haidatsu and silver with gold haidatsu highlights, featuring on each side and the upper part several karako (Chinese children) playing in various ways; a door on one side revealing three drawers decorated with a checkerboard pattern in gold and black hiramaki-e, the reverse of the door in kinji lacquer, depicting a seated komainu, the inside and the base of the drawers in nashiji; the whole set enhanced with gilt copper fittings chased with floral motifs, and grip rings. (A small hinge nail needs refixing, minor wear). Japan, Edo period, 18th century. A SMALL BLACK AND GOLD LACQUERED SAGEDANSU, JAPAN, EDO PERIOD, 18TH CENTURY. DIM. 7,9 X 11,3 X 7,1 CM (3 1/8 X 4 1/2 X 2 3/4 IN.) PROVENANCE: Christie's London, 12 Nov. 2003, no. 117. Published: Mike and Hiroko Dean, Nihon no Shikki, Japanese Lacquer - an Exposition, Kyoto, 1984, no. 5 Compare with a series of sagedansu from the collection of Queen Marie-Antoinette, illustrated in the catalogue of the exhibition "Les laques du Japon, Collections de Marie-Antoinette", Château de Versailles, 15 Oct. 2001 - 7 Jan. 2002, nos. 67 to 70. NOTE It should be noted that these incense cabinets generally contained small boxes.