Painted Tibetan 'Dragon' Storage Chest - 18thC Origin - UK the publisher's mark 「ト山口」 of

the publisher's mark 「ト山口」 of Yamaguchiya Tōbei (Kinkōdō) - all aligning the impression to Kaei 2-4 (1849-1851) and to an Edo performance at the Kawarazaki-za

61 x 8 x 92 (wxdxh cms)

sancai glaze

157 x 57 x 114 (wxdxh cms)

Painted Tibetan 'Dragon' Storage Chest - 18thC Origin - UK the publisher's mark 「ト山口」 ofTibetan chests and trunks were used as storage in homes and monasteries. Boxes are normally made from cedar, pine or poplar. If they are painted it is usually just the front and 2 sides. They can either be painted directly on the wood or on older pieces onto a fabric applied to the wood. The colours and designs used are very decorative. The crimson foreground is decorated in vibrant polychrome pigments with a central panel enclosing a ferocious