On the roof of the box there is a textured image of a Chinese boy (karako) lying on Hotei's bag and holding a fan forming the pommel.
Metal

Komai Precious Iron

Card case with a landscape against a background of Mount Fuji, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 9.2 cm, early 20th century.
Card case with a landscape against a background of Mount Fuji, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 9.2 cm, early 20th century.

The Komai family of Kyoto produced weapons and other metal products for generations. It is believed that the company was founded in 1841 by Komai Seibei, and the workshop gained international fame at the end of the 19th century. Komai Otojiro (1842-1917), son of the founder, dedicated himself to creating high quality products for national and foreign exhibitions to establish the Komai brand.

Pair of flower glasses inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 10.2 cm.
Pair of flower glasses inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 10.2 cm.

At the age of thirteen, Komai Otojiro began training with Misaki Shusuke, a sword maker, from whom he learned inlay techniques. Around 1873, Komai Otojiro began selling ironwork with gold and silver inlay in Kobe, a center of foreign trade, and within a few years his boxes, cabinets, dishes, vases and pagoda models were in such demand that he became wealthy enough to buy big house.

Writing set, inlaid with gold, Komai, early 20th century.
Writing set, inlaid with gold, Komai, early 20th century.
Table screen depicting a landscape, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 18 cm, early 20th century.
Table screen depicting a landscape, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 18 cm, early 20th century.

The usual decorative composition was an expressive drawing based on a legend, a historical event, an image of a famous landscape or a scene with mythological characters, framed by a stylized background pattern.

Cylindrical vase with landscape scenes, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 9.7 cm, late 19th century.
Cylindrical vase with landscape scenes, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 9.7 cm, late 19th century.
Tabletop cabinet with landscapes of Komyoji Temple in Kurodani, inlaid with gold, Komai, height 13.3 cm, late 19th century.
Tabletop cabinet with landscapes of Komyoji Temple in Kurodani, inlaid with gold, Komai, height 13.3 cm, late 19th century.
Iron drum shaped vase inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 21.6 cm, late 19th century.
Iron drum shaped vase inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 21.6 cm, late 19th century.
Decorative plate depicting a temple landscape and Mount Fuji, Komai, diameter 43 cm, late 19th century.
Decorative plate depicting a temple landscape and Mount Fuji, Komai, diameter 43 cm, late 19th century.
Iron vessel with lid depicting a rooster and hen, inlaid with gold, Komai, height 7.3 cm, late 19th century.
Vessel with lid depicting a rooster and hen, inlaid with gold, Komai, height 7.3 cm, late 19th century.
Iron box depicting a landscape, inlaid with gold, Komai, height 6.4 cm, late 19th century.
Iron box depicting a landscape, inlaid with gold, Komai, height 6.4 cm, late 19th century.
Iron vase with image of monkeys, inlaid with gold, Komai, height 18.4 cm, late 19th century.
Iron vase with image of monkeys, inlaid with gold, Komai, height 18.4 cm, late 19th century.
Dish depicting peonies and a crane surrounded by Nunomesogan patterns, Komai, late 19th century.
Dish depicting peonies and a crane surrounded by Nunomesogan patterns, Komai, late 19th century.
Iron box inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, length 23 cm, late 19th century.
Iron box inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, length 23 cm, late 19th century.
Vase decorated with gold and silver in the Nunomesogan style, height 6 cm, Komai, late 19th century.
Vase decorated with gold and silver in the Nunomesogan style, height 6 cm, Komai, late 19th century.
A cabinet lid depicting the Chion in Temple and its grounds.
A cabinet lid depicting the Chion in Temple and its grounds.
Iron cabinet with landscapes, inlaid with gold, height 13.8 cm, Komai, late 19th century.
Iron cabinet with landscapes, inlaid with gold, height 13.8 cm, Komai, late 19th century.
Tabletop cabinet in the form of a pagoda, decorated with famous views of Kyoto, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 45 cm, late 19th century.
Tabletop cabinet in the form of a pagoda, decorated with famous views of Kyoto, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, height 45 cm, late 19th century.
Decorative plate depicting Lord Taira no Koremochi being menaced by a demon, Komai, diameter 54.5 cm, late 19th century.
Decorative plate depicting Lord Taira no Koremochi being menaced by a demon, Komai, diameter 54.5 cm, late 19th century.
Pair of iron vases inlaid with gold, silver, shibuichi (silver alloy) and shakudo (gold and copper alloy), Komai, height 43 cm, late 19th century.
Pair of iron vases inlaid with gold, silver, shibuichi (silver alloy) and shakudo (gold and copper alloy), Komai, height 43 cm, late 19th century.
On the roof of the box there is a textured image of a Chinese boy (karako) lying on Hotei's bag and holding a fan forming the pommel.
On the roof of the box there is a textured image of a Chinese boy (karako) lying on Hotei’s bag and holding a fan forming the pommel.
All the beauty of the Nunomesogan (bottom of the box).
All the beauty of the Nunomesogan (bottom of the box).
Iron box in the shape of a Hotei treasure bag, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, length 9 cm, late 19th century.
Iron box in the shape of a Hotei treasure bag, inlaid with gold and silver, Komai, length 9 cm, late 19th century.