North Section of the “450 Pagodas.” Each Enshrining a Book of Wisdom, Mandalay, Burma

Keystone View Company

Late 19th-early 20th century

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Surimono print with a variety of New Years decorations.
Bee Alight on Snake Gourd (Karasu Uri), Kawanabe Gyosui, ink and color on paper
Ku29. This exceptionally finely made silver box is decorated with répoussé and chased sylvan and hunting themes arranged in framed panels. The top panel depicts a riverbank, on which a pride of lions has been enraged by the actions of two men in a boat, making their escape. One of the men can be seen to be holding a lion cub, which he has just abducted, and the other man is poling the craft away from the shore. The scene is bordered by scrolling grapevines interrupted by birds. The side, front, and back panels depict other animals—a monkey observing a pair of bears, a tapir-like animal and a water buffalo drinking from a pond, a boar being surrounded by hounds, and two gazelles making an escape, while a stag is set upon by dogs—each of these panels bordered by floral tendrils. The interior of the box has a gold wash, and the bottom bears the “O.M Bhuj” punch mark. Weight: 21.9 oz. (621 grams)
Exterior with carved flowers