Lacquer Box with Fantastical Creature Handmade in Kashmir, India rabbit and later lived in Oaxaca

and later lived in Oaxaca

it is mid-century in style and was purchased from an estate sale that included a great collection of mid to late 20th century ceramics and studio pottery from Japan

While totally functional

but I do know that it is a truly lovely object that would be great on a desk

Lacquer Box with Fantastical Creature Handmade in Kashmir, India rabbit and later lived in OaxacaWho is this marvelous fantastical beast that lives on the top of this vintage lacquer box? He looks a bit like a dog with antlers and a head dress, but his face seems positively human, and he has what looks rather like a tiny hand and wrist for a nose! Whatever he is, he's about the best creature I've seen, and is set off perfectly against a bold yellow ground, with additional colorful abstract forms, again rather mysterious, on all sides of the box.