Tebako or ornamental cosmetic box, with a design of scattered seashells and seaweed on a beach, of lacquer ornamented in takamakie or raised gold and colored lacquers, and nashiji or gold flake lacquers, the interior with a stylized beach motif in raised and textured black lacquer with light touches of nashiji or gold flake lacquer, the rims of applied pewter. Signed by the artist on the reverse of the lid in raised gold lacquer: Ryushin, and sealed: Ryushin (Umezawa Ryushin, 1874 – 1952). Early Showa era, autumn of 1937.

With the tomobako or original storage box, inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Kaibutsusei Nishiki Makie Tebako or Seashell Brocade (Design) Lacquer Cosmetic Box; and signed on the reverse of the lid: Ryushin Zo or Made by Ryushin, and sealed: Ryushin.

The youngest of Shibata Zeshin’s three sons, Umezawa Ryushin worked in Tokyo. He studied lacquer under Shibata Zeshin and Ikeda Taishin. Ryushin exhibited at the Teiten from 1929 through 1934, and at the Shin-bunten in 1936 – 1938 and in 1941 – 1943, and the Hoshukuten in 1940. This box was made for exhibition at the Shin-bunten in 1937, and is illustrated in the Nittenshi, volume 13, page 214, number 16.