Boxes makeup a large portion of Japanese antique lacquerware, usually with maki-e or painted decoration.
Bunko boxes, of which the collection has a dozen or so, are literally “writing boxes,” for storing books and correspondence.In earlier eras, they were also used to store kimono accessories and other small treasures. They are a prime source for large-scale maki-e compositions that sometimes extend over the sides of the box. Size of ca. 40x30x14 cm is typical.
Jūbako. These are multi-tiered boxes (25 x 23 x43, 5 tiers) for serving food. Usually, they are highly decorated black lacquer on wood, with undecorated red lacquer interiors and gold maki-e on the top rims of each tier. They often are made with 3-5 tiers with a lid (sometimes a separate base) for the top box and a second lid when creating two groupings on a long table). They are mainly used for the lavish variety of traditional New Year’s food (osechi,) and other special occasions.
Each box is filled with smaller rectangular and triangular ceramic dishes that all fit snugly together in each tier, (each dish features its own special taste delight. The entire stack of boxes, all filled with a diverse selection, is brought to the table. After first exclaiming the visual delight of the jūbako itself and the display of foods in it, it provides small tastes of many traditional favorites (see above, from Wikipedia, “Osechi”).
The two sets of stacked boxes pictured from the collection are typical. One is lavishly covered with gold Togidashi maki-e bamboo leaves, and takamaki-e rose-colored plums. The other is covered with foliage and takamaki-e berries design. Jūbako are often used only on special occasions and between uses, protected in their own storage box (tomobako). They are thus often in pristine condition despite their age and valued use. Smaller, round ceramic jubako are used in the kitchen year-round for preparing daily meals and storage of spices, tea, etc., and smaller lacquer jubako are used to store jewelry, etc.
Suzuribako ink stonewriting boxes are small oblong rectangular boxes (typical size ca. 25 x 22 x 55cm), with lavish maki-e on the cover, and sometimes with maki-e on the inside of the cover (for user delight when the box is open). Maki-e sometimes is found inside of the box lid which stores an ink stone, a water dropper (to activate the ink stone), and space for writing brushes. With the onset of the Internet, writing with brushes is infrequent and thus suzuribako are frequently found at reasonable prices as a premier source of high-quality maki-e.
Fubako (25x9x6) are letter boxes. Not only do they store letters worth keeping, but it is said that letters from one respected friend to another were traditionally hand-delivered in a fubako. They tend to be designed, at least on the top, with maki-e.
Glove boxes are larger but otherwise indistinguishable from letter boxes and, as with those, highly decorated with maki-e.
Tomobako are storage/presentation boxes. Usually, plain wood is made to fit the dimensions of what will be contained and thereby protect it when not in use, or for sale. Some merchants sell them without their original contents, and some boxes are signed—though it is unclear whether by the artist or the box maker.
Tomobako are storage/presentation boxes. Usually, plain wood is made to fit the dimensions of what will be contained and thereby protect it when not in use, or for sale. Some merchants sell them without their original contents, and some boxes are signed—though it is unclear whether by the artist or the box maker.
