A rectangular karabitsu | Momoyama period, late 16th century

A rectangular karabitsu 

Momoyama period, late 16^th century 

32 cm., 12½ in. long 

the rectangular box and cover on typical outwardly curved legs, the base in gold hiramaki-e on a black lacquer ground with stylised waves, the cover with a katami-gawari [divided-in-two-halves]design] of shells beside a shore, inlaid in lead and mother-of-pearl on a nashiji ground, the design continuing onto the sides, red lacquer rims, copper-gilt ring fittings of hares