Schatull med silverservis, Japan, Miyamoto Shoko, Tokyo, tidigt 1900-tal.

From the collection of a Scandinavian nobleman, who had a long diplomatic career starting, in the 1920s as a young attache in China, later on as ambassador in China.

Miyamoto Shoko was one of the most prolific Japanese silversmiths and retailers at the turn of the 20th century. In 1880, the founder of the firm Masaru Miyamoto started his business in Tokyo as the salesman of silver cigarette cases and tobacco to foreigners.

During the Meiji era, when Japan completed its 200-year isolation and opened its borders to other countries, the interest in Japanese silverware started to grow immensely, it’s precisely in 1890 when Miyamoto founded the Miyamoto Shoko company.

The firm produced diverse high-quality silverware and had an extensive range of tea and coffee sets, bowls, snuff boxes, spoons, souvenirs and other items. Usually peculiarly decorated with traditional Japanese motifs, such as chrysanthemum flowers, blossoming cherry trees, bamboo leaves, Miyamoto silver items were also created in Victorian and Georgian designs, which appealed mostly to the Western clientele.

Because of its superb craftsmanship, the firm soon received a Royal Warrant and became the purveyor of Imperial Household Agency in 1899. Their works adorned the interior furnishings of the royal guesthouses and the banquets held for dignitaries. The company also produced exceptional silver gifts for many foreign diplomatic missions.

Today the Imperial family continues to favour Miyamoto Shoko, the finest examples of their silverware were recently presented as birthday gifts to Aiko, Princess Toshi, the only daughter of current Emperor Naruhito of Japan and to his nieces Princess Mako and Princess Kako of Akishino.

The philosophy of Masaru Miyamoto was to "love customers, love products, love employees" and the company Miyamoto Shoko still stays true to this motto. Well-loved by the customers since the Meiji era, the company is still producing exquisite 925/1000 silverware.