Tobacco box and tray set in rectangular form, ornamented with Egyptian style motifs: the lid with an ancient Egyptian striding among a storehouse full of jars set atop a clay brick floor, one jar topped with a head of a ram on the left, another with camels and pyramids, others with florals or geometric ornamentation, one with fish in waves, and one hanging on the right with a running hare motif on the side; the edge of the lid with vining grape leaves; the sides of the box with owls and ibis amid scrolling lotus and water; the tray ornamented on the rim with papyrus capitals and buds. Of choshitsu or carved lacquer layered in four colors. Signed on the reverse of the box with a red against black carved, seal-form signature by the artist: Yozei (Tsuishu Yozei XX, the go or art name of Tsuishu Toyogoro, 1880 – 1952). Showa 3 or 1928.

With a double tomobako or original storage box, the exterior box inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Yozei Saku, Choshitsu Maki Tobacco Bako or Made by Yozei, Carved Lacquer Rolled Tobacco Box; and the interior box inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Maki Tobacco Bako, (mei) Tsubo or Rolled Tobacco Box, (titled) Jars; and on the reverse of this lid dated: Tsuchi no Edatsu, Aki no Hi or Year of the Dragon (1928), A Day in Autumn, and then signed: Yozei Kore wo Tsukuru or Made by Yozei, and sealed twice. With two tomogire or original, sealed wrapping cloths of white silk.

Born to a Kyoto family that had specialized in the creation of carved lacquers since the 14th century, Tsuishu Yozei XX is famous for revitalizing and modernizing the art form. He studied maki-e or raised gold lacquering under Shirayama Shosai, sculpture under Ishikawa Komei, and painting under Satake Eiko. He succeeded to the family title in 1896. In 1900, he won a bronze plaque at the Paris World Exposition. At the 1907 Tokyo Industrial Exposition, he won a second prize and, in 1909, became a counselor to the Japan Crafts Association. In 1913, he exhibited at the first Noten exhibition, displaying and winning prizes at every subsequent exhibition until 1922. In 1923, he founded the Yozei-kai art association and, in 1924, held a one-man show at Takashimaya in Osaka. In 1925, he won a grand prix at the Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs (the great Art Deco exposition). From 1927, he exhibited annually at the Imperial Art Exhibition, beginning with the 8th Teiten. In 1928, he was awarded the Order of the Green Cordon. In 1929, the Yozei-kai published the Tsuishu Sakuhin Zuroku (Catalogue of Works by Tsuishu). In 1934, he held an exhibition of his carved lacquer works at Mitsukoshi in Tokyo and, in 1936, participated in the foundation of the Japan Academy of Lacquer Art. From 1937, he exhibited at the Shin-Bunten (the successor to the Teiten). After the Pacific War, he returned to the government sponsored art exhibitions with the 2nd Nitten in 1946 and the 5th Nitten in 1949, thereafter showing annually in that venue. Tsuishu Yozei XX became a counselor of the Nitten in 1950, and died in November of 1952.