Lidded cosmetic box and tray containing combs, brushes and other items for styling the hair, wood covered in black and gold lacquer, decorated with floral scrolls and with large red (faded) silk cords and tassels, Japan, 1850–60 . Lidded cosmetic box and tray with an overhanging lid, and with a pair of large red (faded) silk cords and tassels each fixed to a metal ring on the bottom section of the box, wood covered in black lacquer and decorated with cherry blossoms and floral scrolls in gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e lacquer; the box contains 11 combs, 2 brushes, 11 wrappers and 2 paper knots for styling the hair and applying make-up. The interior and underside of the box is in black lacquer. Wealthy women would keep their personal possessions in richly decorated lacquer boxes. This example contains hair combs, brushes for cleaning combs, and silvered and gilded paper used in styling hair. Specially commissioned sets of lacquer boxes and other items were often part of a bride’s trousseau. [29/2/2020]