Japanese Lacquered Papier Mache Box with Three Scholars victorian egg with check and what is with this

and what is with this giant hand she is holding out toward him

10 1/4" x 11 1/8" x 5 3/8" tall

I have since found others similar (including in museum collections) and know that it likely came from Guererro in Mexico

they look just fabulous on the kitchen counter

Japanese Lacquered Papier Mache Box with Three Scholars victorian egg with check and what is with thisThis may be my favorite lacquered box I've had and I've gathered a fair number of lacquer boxes! It's the patterns of the kimono of the three figures that really makes it for me so elegant, and with that gold just popping against the black ground. I especially love the gesture of the figure with unrolled scroll before him, and the figure to his right with serenely attentive expression and arms locked gracefully behind him. Really a striking box, and