Almost certainly sent to Queen Victoria by Shōgun Tokugawa Iemochi, 1860.

The contrasting decoration of gold scrollwork and roundels of peonies on black lacquer matches a zushidana, kurodana and shodana in the Royal Collection (RCINs 26049 and 26051).

Those three shelves were received by Queen Victoria from Shōgun Tokugawa Iemochi in 1860 and described by Sir Rutherford Alcock (1809–97), the British Consul-General in Japan, on 27 September 1859, as:

1 Kocladama (a sort of cabinet) [a kurodana, RCIN 26049]

1 Dioesu (a sort of cabinet) [a zushidana, RCIN 10451]

1 Siodama (a bookcase) [a shodana, RCIN 26051]

Smaller boxes from his gift, sent by Queen Victoria to the South Kensington Museum in 1865, bear an identical scrolling foliage design. A co-ordinating dressing case, dispatch case and pair of round incense boxes remain in the Royal Collection. The silk tassels on the matching case have evidently been stored within the box, for their striking red hue has not faded over time.

Text adapted from Japan: Courts and Culture (2020)

Previously published by John Ayers as having been possibly acquired by Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh during his 1869 tour of Japan along with RCIN 70645, RCIN 70646, RCIN 41565 and RCIN 10451, with which it is en suite.