Komai Otojiro (1842-1917) -Gold Damascene CIgarette case (19th century)

Komai Otojiro (1842-1917)
The Komai family worked as a sword furniture maker in Kyoto for generations. It was a father of Otojiro Komai (and a grandfather of Seibei Komai) who in 1853 originated a form of damascene (or Japaneze Zogan) used to ornament and decorate swords, guns, daggers and various types of sword furniture. With the major changes brought about by the Meiji restoration (beginning of 1868) and a Haitorei Edict (March 1876), the Japanese were no longer allowed to wear swords, so the Komai family, like many others, had to find another form of livelihood. They applied their damascene craft (inlaid work of gold and silver on iron ware) to creating objects in Western and traditional Japanese styles producing vases, purses, cigar, cigarette and card cases, jewelry boxes, coat buttons, combs, buckles, incense burners, hanging plates, lockets, brooches, charms, spoons, bracelets, cabinets and others.

Immaculate condition with brilliant decoration on the outside of hundreds of golden maple leaves and on the inside logo (dragonfly) and signature of the Komai Workshop 'Nihonkoku Kyoto-ju Komai-sei'. In its original leather case of Samurai Shokai company from Yokohama, purveyor to threimperial court round 1900.
24 (unfolded in open position) x 8 x 1 cm