The box is carved with a kirin in black among clouds and scrolling peonies on a red ground. In the 1896 catalogue of the Tomkinson Collection it is described as follows: ‘Kö-bako = perfume box, Zokoku – lacquer carved in low relief and engraved. A Kirin in black with peonies and arabesques in brown on a red ground. 5″ x 3¼” x 2″ signed Zokoku – 18th century’.

Literature: Michael Tomkinson, A Japanese Collection, Vol. 2 (London, 1898), p. 41, no. 590; Anthony du Boulay, The Duberly Collection of Chinese Art at Winchester College (Winchester, 2019), p. 152

Provenance: Bequeathed as part of the Duberly Collection, 1978; purchased by Major Montagu and Lady Eileen Duberly from John Sparks, 11 June 1960 (£12); formerly in the collection of Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921), no. 590

Location: Treasury, Gallery 2