PARQUETRY-VENEERED TIERED SWEET BOX, Meiji Period（1868–1912CE）

Meiji period, a parquetry-veneered tiered sweet box.

Small wood pieces are finely joined to create a checkerboard pattern across the exterior. Timbers differing in grain and tone are combined so that a natural character emerges within the composed form.

A compact three-tiered form, its black-lacquer handle and base lend the piece a clear, restrained presence. Vermilion-lacquer ornaments at the ends of the handle provide a pleasing contrast to the wood character of the parquetry-veneered surface.

The interior is finished in vermilion lacquer. In contrast to the subdued wood grain of the exterior, opening the lid reveals the vermilion, imparting a brightness befitting a sweets box.

There are age-related scuffs, minor scratches, and slight wear to the lacquer surface, but the overall condition is good. The tiers fit together neatly, making this a piece readily suitable for practical use.

It may be regarded as a sweets container for a tea gathering. Though modest in size, its tiered form conveys a composed presence, making it equally well suited to a shelf or a tabletop.