A very fine and rare silver Shibayama cigarette case, exquisitely decorated with 18 individual hand crafted insects in semi precious stones. This superb piece bares silver hallmarks for Birmingham 1919 and makers mark for Driver and Plant who specialised in the production of such cases. The Shibayama technique was named after Shibayama Dosho, who introduced it in Japan in the 18th century. It was used exclusively on items for import to the West. Shibayama is the art of semiprecious stones, shell, turtleshell etc inlayed on lacquer and ivory pieces. The items decorated in the Shibayama style range from vases, boxes and table-screens to swords and entire ivory tusks. However he cannot be said to have invented it, but, as has been observed of many other Japanese applied arts, the perfecting of the method was mistaken for its origin. Signed in the silver by the Japanese Artisan. Silver hallmarks for Birmingham 1917, makers mark with initial H. 9cm Long by 8cm Deep and 1.4cm High