Product Description

6874 A kinkarakawa (gilt leather) box in gold, green and red damask motif covering a black lacquer kusuri-bako (apothecary box) of six drawers decorated with a single plum blossom beneath each of the circular handles.

Holland/Japan 18th/19th century Edo period

Dimensions: H. 32.5cm x W. 35.5cm x D. 23cm (12¼” x 14″ x 9″)

Kinkarakawa (gilt leather) was imported from Holland during the 18th and 19th century. Originally made for use in screens and as a decorative wall covering, in Japan it was remodeled to create exotic accessories such as lecterns, saddles, pipe cases and tobacco pouches. It was also often used for doctors’ medicine cabinets, both for western and Chinese medicine. Many medicines were being imported at this time, and foreign looking medical trappings were probably conceived as being new and more effective than traditional remedies.