Japanese Copper Inlaid Planter

Chrysanthemums, autumn leaves, and a bowl that held them.

This inlaid planter was made in Japan in copper and wood in the early 20th century. Japanese inlaid and lacquered woodwork is commonly decorated with seasonal flowers and plants. A large, round-sided bowl in reddish-brown wood carries chrysanthemums in cream, gold and silver metals, with oak-like leaves around them. Thin metal lines suggest a fence or lattice running behind the flowers. The wood is polished and rich, with visible grain and a soft glow where the surface is worn smooth.

About 8 inches tall and 12 across. Fills a table with its own garden.