### **Tebako with carriage wheels & waves, signed Shomin**


**Meiji period, 1868-1912, Japan**

**Height: 19.7 cm, 7.8 inches**

**Length: 37 cm, 14.6 inches**

The waves in gold hiramaki-e on a gold ground sprinkled with gold dust, the wheels inlaid in shell and then lacquered over leaving the rims and spokes visible in shell. The interior of the lid has tomoe-mon in gold togidashi-e on nashiji.

Signed: Ani Shomin (older brother Shomin); pewter rims, white metal cord fittings in the form of carriage wheels. Ogawa Shomin (1847-1891). Accompanying document mentions 5th year, presumably of Meiji.

**Paper Slip Inscribed**

Imperial property of the Higashiyama period i.e. late 15th century referring to the original. Tebako with carriage wheels as used by Princess Yodo Gimi (Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife). Made by Shomin - artist to the Imperial household.