A very fine and rare silver shibayama tobacco and combination vesta case lid and strikers on pot. Decorated with individual hand crafted insects in semi precious stones. 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 1912 and makers mark W.M.Co. for Wilmott Manufacturing Company. 7.5cm Deep by 7.5cm Wide and 2.5cm High