Japanese Boxes, We Like?

[Bugyotsuji]

Always nce to have cryptic messages on things. In this 'case', the dates do not seem to match, but it's the contents that matter!

 

What is written on the fantastic Noshi Maedate, John?

[Shogun8]

Piers,

 

Here's what's written on the back. It's strange because the perfect, mirror-like finish on the back makes it seem like the maedate is modern, but the excellent patina and detail evident on the front is definitely Edo. Another thing - the maedate is larger and heavier than most such maedate which are usually made of a very light, balsa-type wood. I wonder if this was once some kind of plaque in a Buddhist shrine. Anyone have any ideas?

 

 

 

John

[Ed]

Catching up a bit this morning with coffee and saw this thread, nice stuff.  I enjoy and appreciate lacquer work, but have very little of it and what I have are small pieces.  I prefer the tansu and/or wooden boxes, especially those adorned with metal banding and latches.  Here are a couple of mine:

 

Katana dansu:

 

Tansu:

 

Tansu:

 

[kusunokimasahige]

Talking about a nice box..... Have you seen this one ?
(I expect it will go high though)......



 

[Ed]

No, I had not, but it is very fine. Thanks for posting it.

[kusunokimasahige]

Most welcome. Whoever wins that has a gem.

[Curran]

I think I want to live in Ed's house.

I'm ready to give up "Beach Paradise" minimalist living, and have tansu envy.

[Jean]

Curran,

 

Your envy makes me think of one of Westside Story songs and I shall say : and what to keep in.

 

In the song the girl wants a washing machine and the girls chorus answers : and what do you have to keep clean

[Curran]

Jean-  Profound.

I will parry, and riposte:  http://www.weathernerds.org/tc_guidance/images/AL11_2017090412_ECENS.png?8695221

 

Class 4<->5 is no fun.

[Stephen]

praying it takes a sharp right hook!!! no upper cuts!!!

[Jean]

Touché, Curran

[Ed]

Couple of new additions:

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Mmmm.... very satisfying. No expert on furniture here, but somehow I associate those with northern Honshu. (The lightness of the wood, the blackness, style and thickness of the fixtures.)

[Ed]

Piers, Nope, these came from Texas 

[Bugyotsuji]

Ed, I thought everything had to be bigger in Texas!?!?

[illielee]

Anyone know what type of bako I have here?  If the slot is original and what might it's purpose be?

[Bugyotsuji]

Only one handle?

 

Could it be a Zaisenbako for a Jinja or Tera, lifting the front to slide the coins to the back?

[illielee]

handles on each side at opposite ends...looks the same from each side.  42 inches long by the way.

[Bugyotsuji]

Or, for an old bath house entrance, males and females drop their coins either side of the dividing screen?

[illielee]

Are there offering boxes in this format?  Could it possibly have been repurposed.  Seems to me it would house something long.  There are no signs that it had extensive bracing, but there does look to be signs of old glue on the inner bottom along one side and on that side is slight oxidation showing a curve similar to a katana or teppo hilt.  

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes, katana-bako repurposed makes sense.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Piers, what is the difference between a katana-bako & a katanadansu? Or is it just the way you read the Kanji?

[Bugyotsuji]

Ken, just used it subconsciously!

I guess with a single (long) box being a Hako, and a chest with drawers being a Tansu, if yours has drawers then it’s a katana-dansu.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Thanks, Piers. I'd always thought that bako were smaller boxes, & hako larger ones.

[Guido]

I'd always thought that bako were smaller boxes, & hako larger ones.

 

Ken, it's is called rendaku 連濁, sequal voicing. The "ha" of hako 箱 (box) changes into a "ba" if it's the non-initial portion of a compound. For example, it's hakogaki, but tsubabako.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Thanks, Guido. If I can't get it right in transliterated English, I guess it wouldn't make sense to try it in Japanese! But I'll keep trying....

[Shogun8]

Thought I'd revive this thread by sharing this negoro karabitsu from the Edo period:

 

 

On a related note, does anyone know if there are any books published on antique Japanese boxes?

[Bugyotsuji]

John, good question. How do you know that your karabitsu is from the Edo Period? Could it not be earlier? (See post #33 earlier)

 

Thanks for reviving this thread. This could be an excuse to get the camera out again. (Missing Eric now, though...)

[Bugyotsuji]

In the meantime this one, from a temple, is dated. (Mid-Edo)

 

Yes, the top swivels. 

[Shogun8]

John, good question. How do you know that your karabitsu is from the Edo Period? Could it not be earlier? (See post #33 earlier)

 

Thanks for reviving this thread. This could be an excuse to get the camera out again. (Missing Eric now, though...)

Hi Piers,

 

When I first bought this karabitsu, I thought it could have been pre-Edo, but I have shown pictures of it to a few of our senior society members in Japan and they all seem to think that it's Edo.

 

Eric is indeed missed...