$300
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Description
3" (8 cm.) l. shells. 6"h. box. The Awase-gai (shell matching game) consists of nine natural shells with luxuriously painted images on the inside of each shell depicting peaceful scenes of courtiers reclining by a river, a fountain and sand tray, birds perched on a summer fence, courtiers lounging by a verandah, and birds resting in a blossoming tree; with raised lacquer details, the lacquer box in traditional octagon shape is decorated with a scroll-foliate design and a large gold chrysanthemum blossom on the center of the lid. Meiji Era, circa 1900. Awase-gai is a traditional game played among the nobility where 360 painted shells make a full set. Similar to the Western card game "Concentration", all of the shells were placed face down. A single shell known as a "calling shell" was placed face up in the center and players tried to find the matching shell. The interior surfaces of the shells were often luxuriously decorated with scenes form famous poems or from such literary works as the "Tale of Genji." Miniature awase-gai sets were frequently included in the Hina Matsuri display to amuse the dairi-bina (imperial couple).