19th century, lacquer textured and carved to appear as wood grain, lacquered in gold, silver, mother of pearl and ishimura-nuri takamaki-e, with reddish orange persimmons surrounded by leaves and branches, signed in gold hiramaki-e on side at lower right Zeshin, interior box is black lacquer with hollyhock crest in gold, brown cord has an lotus root ojime with small crab clinging to side and a boxwood double gourd shaped netsuke with repeated leaves as on main box.



Box 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 2 in., Ojime 5/8 in., Netsuke 2 in.

For a similar style tonkotsu by Zeshin sold at auction see Bonhams, London, 3 November 2022, Lot 62.

Some losses to lower rim of box and a crack to one corner; rubbing and wear with some minor loss to edges of interior box; gourd netsuke with some losses to inlays of mother of pearl and gold.