Vintage Japanese Personal lacquered Ryukyu Zenibako Box | Taisho period (1900-1940)

Dimensions: 1-0”h x 3-78”w x 8-3/4”l

Offered is a beautiful, small personal Ryukyu Zenibako made to hold Japanese small value (100 Yen) yen notes, (averaging 51x106mm), which were used in the 19th century and discontinued in the 1950s. The piece was also made to hold a small note pad and writing device for personal record keeping. This beautiful box has a base of wood finished in black lacquer with Tsuikin, (low relief carving). The base lacquer is finished to look like deer skin giving a tactful visual appearance. The lid fits well, and has detailed images of a colorful Phoenix bird,(known as hō-ō in Japanese, are a mythical bird), executed in red, yellow and green details pigment, and beautifully detailed on each corner of the lid. This type of detailing, as one can see, required a high level of craftsmanship and experience. The sides of the lid have an “ogee”, (flowing concave and convex arches) carved motif. Its' original black cotton cord remains to hold the top and bottom keeping its contents intact and secure. (In searching the internet for Zenibako, one mostly sees a multitude of much larger, and more complex money storage boxes were made with extensive metal locks for storing large quantities of money, coins and important documents). This small personal box is rare and difficult to find.

NOTE: After Ryukyu came under control of mainland Japan in 1606, the kingdom contributed lacquerware to Japan’s Tokugawa shogunate while retaining Ryukyu Okinawa lacquerware’s three distinguishing characteristics. The most common is Tsuikin, such as in the decoration of this lid is where lacquer is mixed with pigments to form a paste, cut according to the design, and directly applied onto the lacquered surface to create a three-dimensional effect.

Condition: Excellent, beautiful condition with no corner separations or loss of lacquer or motif.