Japan Shibayama Photograph Album Cabinet Meiji Period Unique 24 Pages 180 Spaces Ebonized Wood Ivory Inlay Start Price USD 3,200.00 Current Price USD 3,200.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, July 23, 2008 End Time Monday, July 28, 2008 Location Park Ridge, Illinois See more about 'Japan Shibayama Photograph Album Cabinet Meiji Period' Description 19th Century Carte-de-Visite & Cabinet Card Album:   Japan A unique Japanese shibayama inlay, hanging photograph album cabinet of ebonized hardwood, Meiji period (this piece falling in the 1860-1880 range), fitted with stereo card drawer and 24 hinged album pages supporting various sized images behind inlaid and carved doors with shelves at sides and bottom. Door panels and drawer front each feature a bone carved bird on a branch or in flight with flowers and leaves from bone and mother of pearl. The branches are carved from wood. Condition is excellent with minor inlay loss as expected, rubbing to face of cabinet near small drawer, two chipped decorative wood highlights, one clear repair on decorative detail just below doors at front, some age splitting of back board at bottom left at back of bottom shelf, door lock is not working and wooden stop where it matches other door is worn/chipped. It has 5 very strong, metal hanging attachments. The 24 paper and heavy board album pages each measure 16 inches high by 12 inches wide and are in very good condition with some light foxing to front pages. Only two tears at image slots (both repaired with linen tape), and some small tears/cracking at the back sheets of some of the pages. Each page is hinged with linen and inserted into a wooden slot at each side of the cabinet. It appears that this is removable with several screws to facilitate mounting images outside of the cabinet. There are 4 different page styles, two of which accommodate cartes de visite sizes and two that accommodate cabinet card sizes. There are three sets of each style on each side totaling 12 pages per side allowing for a total of 180 images (72 cabinet and 108 cartes de visite). The album pages are all empty and have been so since I acquired this. This rare, museum quality piece of photographic history measures 38 inches high by 39 ½ inches wide and is 6 ¼ inches deep. It has been in my possession since 1986 when it was purchased from a private collector of photographic ephemera. I have never seen a comparable piece before acquiring it nor since.  It is most unusual and has hung as art in my home.  Shipping cost will include insurance and packing materials with carrier fees that may or may not include special handling. Alone, it weighs approximately 35 pounds before packing. Foreign bidders should inquire before hand on cost estimates.  Email with questions. S/H will be calculated based on the buyers shipping request, weight and cost of packing materials combined, Illinois Residents add 8.75% sales tax, insurance is required and will be added and calculated upon winning bid. We are currently listing a diverse selection of photography and art books from a large private collection of over 30 years. Please check back frequently to see the new listings in both our auctions and our eBay Store. Take a minute and click on the link to my eBay Store in the upper right corner of this page. Thanks.                           On Apr-16-07 at 20:29:16 PDT, seller added the following information: Use the FREE Counters 1 million sellers do - Andale! Powered by eBay Turbo Lister The free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Place a Bid!