Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891)

A gold lacquer inro with a design of a boat laden with rice sheaves, a quant pole resting against the stern. The little vessel is tossed by the stormy waters, a bank of waves rising up to form a crest to one side. Decoration in gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, waves in seigaha-nuri. Four cases.

Signed in ‘rat’s tooth’: Zeshin