Japanese Antique Box with Carved Flower Motif

A peony in carved ivory-white, blooming on black.

This antique box from Japan combines bone and wood. A black, beveled lid carries a carved relief of a large peony in full bloom, with leaves, a pair of buds on a curving stem and a small bird tucked at the left. Peonies are commonly associated with prosperity in East Asian design. The bone is pale cream and finely cut, standing out sharply from the glossy dark ground. The edges are clean and the proportions long and low.

About 6 inches wide and 3 deep. A jewelry box that doubles as the jewelry.