Modernist Japanese Deco Lacquer Stacking Boxes black and umber as if standing silently by

as if standing silently by

where it looks like there once was a handle

so I won't be sad if no one buys them

11 3/4" t x 4" w

A few nice old nails along the bottom edge with one patch of old surface cracking/chipping there

Modernist Japanese Deco Lacquer Stacking Boxes black and umber as if standing silently byI don't know the maker on this, but definitely Japanese, c. 1920s 40s I believe, and really beautiful. The gold brown not quite gold, not quite mustard, not quite brown really does it for me combined with the red and black, and the target like lid is just the right topper. Three boxes in one, configurable in various ways if one likes. Feels very Bauhaus era (I thought perhaps German or Austrian from a distance) but also very Japanese. Just right. 5 7