A beautiful box covered in powdered gold given as a gift by the Royal Prince Nashimoto Morimasa in 1937. It consists of a box and tray, the box emblazoned with the Chrysanthemum crest of the Imperial Nashimoto family. The outside of the box and upper portion of the tray is entirely covered in powdered gold, rims in solid silver, with the inside of the box, and underside of box and tray in gold flaked Nashiji lacquer. The tray is 19.7 x 23.1 x 2 cm (8 x 9-1/4 x 1 inches). The box: 11.7 x 14 x 6 cm (4-3/4 x 5-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches) and both are in excellent condition. It is enclosed in the original Kiri-wood box, wrapped in white silk. The box itself inset into a compartment with the tray stored on top in a wider section. Everything about it speaks of royalty. Upon the box lid is written Gold maki-e tobacco box bearing the crest of His Imperial Highness Prince Nashimoto, the inscription inside translatable as: “On October 18, Shōwa 12 [1937], upon my resignation as president of the Dai-Nippon [Buttoku] Association, I received this as a gift from His Imperial Highness Prince Nashimoto, the association's Patron. Recorded by Nara Takeji.”
The Nashimoto-no-miya branch of the imperial family was one of the Miyake—collateral branches of the Japanese Imperial Family. The house was established by Prince Moriosa Shinnō (1819–1881), a son of Prince Fushimi Sadayuki. He had originally entered Buddhist orders and eventually became head of the Kajii Monzeki an aristocratic Tendai temple lineage. Following the Meiji Restoration, he returned to secular life, and around 1870 the new imperial house took the name Nashimoto-no-miya. Prince Nashimoto Morimasa (1874–1951) was born a son of Prince Kuni Asahiko and was selected to succeed to the Nashimoto house in 1885. He subsequently took the name Morimasa. Morimasa became an important military and court figure. He graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, studied in France, served during the Russo-Japanese War, eventually attained the rank of general, and in 1932 was made a Gensui, Marshal of the Imperial Japanese Army. He also served as Saishu figurehead of Ise from 1943. In 1900 he married Nabeshima Itsuko (1882–1976), daughter of Marquis Nabeshima Naohiro, the former lord of Saga. Their eldest daughter is historically particularly interesting: Princess Masako (1901–1989) married Yi Un, Crown Prince Euimin of Korea, in 1920. Thus, the Nashimoto house became intimately connected with the former Korean royal family during the colonial period.
