A JAPANESE LACQUER MINIATURE DISPLAY CABINET, SHODANA

Meiji period

The rectangular-section body painted in gilt with roundels of cranes, plants and blossoms, encasing three drawers with metal handles, a pair of door painted with wild cranes concealing two further drawers, two-level shelves and another shelf behind a pair of sliding doors decorated with a watery landscape, all beneath the flat top with upturned ends, together with a letter from the Buckingham Palace, stating the donation from Queen Mary (1867-1953) at a charitable auction supporting St Mary's Hospital in Stratford, dated February 7th 1931.

29cm x 30cm x 16cm (6)

Provenance: accompanied by a letter on the Buckingham Palace stationery reading:

The Lady in Waiting is commanded by

The Queen to acknowledge the receipt

of Mrs Gately's letter

of Feb.6 and in reply to say

that Her Majesty will have great pleasure

in sending a gift of a Japanese

cabinet (value £5) in aid of St Mary's

Stratford. The Queen's parcel will be sent to

Mrs Gately in the course of a few days.

Feb. 7. 1931

together with a card reading

From The Queen

In aid of Queen Mary's

Hospital for the East

End, Stratford

contained in an envelope stamped with George VIth monogram.