A RARE TSUISHU-INLAID LACQUER FOUR-CASE INRO WITH SHICHIFUKUJIN Unsigned Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of upright form, bearing a roiro ground, applied in tsuishu to one side with a basket, corals, shippo and choji encircled by four of the lucky gods: Hotei leaning against his sack, Benten playing the biwa, Ebisu holding a large fish, and Bishamonten wearing full armor and holding a trident and pagoda. The other side is similarly decorated with a treasure bag, a hat and cloak of invisibility, as well as the other three lucky gods: Fukurokuju and Jurojin seated side by side, holding a fan and reading from a scroll, respectively, above the lone Daikoku holding his mallet. The top of the inro shows a character Kotobuki 壽 (Ju), which means felicity and long-life, in black takamaki-e and the bottom is similarly decorated with a chrysanthemum flowerhead. The interior with dense nashiji and gold fundame edges. HEIGHT 7.2 cm Condition: Good overall condition with old wear, few fine hairlines, light surface scratches. Provenance: German private collection, acquired at Lempertz, 18 June 1994, Cologne, lot 1059.