Lacquer Box with Fantastical Creature Handmade in Kashmir, India rabbit it is mid-century in style

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

prefer cocktails to brewskis

but it wonderful just on its own as a gorgeous sculptural object

Lacquer Box with Fantastical Creature Handmade in Kashmir, India rabbit it is mid-century in styleWho 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.