Iron Box Inlaid With Precious Metals. Japanese Work 19th Century.edo-meiji.

The box is made of iron embossed with a hammer, the forging work is admirable because it presents a particularity rarely encountered in works of this type, in fact the artist chiseled the trunk of the tree hollow in the iron and created the branches in forged relief. The inlays are in shakudo (copper and gold alloy), sentoku (copper alloy) in silver and gilded copper. The details are solid gold. Under the base are engraved Chinese characters, certainly indicating the name of the artist and other information which should make it possible to precisely date the work.On the lid on the left are carved two seals. Very good condition however to note: slight wear of the gilding in rare places, interior slightly oxidized, underside weathered in the center. See the pictures. Diameter: 141mm Height: 74mm