Japanese Antique Sewing Box Haribako Reverse Negoro Lacquer with Secret Storage

Description

Japanese Antique Sewing Box Haribako Lidded 4 Drawer Tansu Momiji & Katsura Wood
DETAILS OF ITEM
This is a Taisho era Japanese Haribako (sewing box) with an arrangement of 5 drawers with a hinged top front lid.  It was made from Fir (Katsura) with Cryptomeria (Sugi) and Paulownia (Kirinoki) woods to the interior of the piece.
It measures 12.75 inches wide by 9.87 inches high by 7.75 inches deep.  It was finished in a reverse Negoro lacquer (black on red) where the Japanese artisan wanted the red color to peek through the black.
Opening the hinged lid gives access to a lift-out rectangle compartment that holds a smaller removable square tray that was originally used to keep a pin cushion. Spools of thread were originally kept in this area and 2 wooden thread plates are still with the piece. The compartment when removed reveals a back panel with a finger hole which pulls out to a secret hiding drawer.  This is where the wife hid the family money from her husband or the professional seamtress kept his or her earnings.
The metal hardware is original to the piece including the half Chrysanthemum blossoms incised to the drawer handles.   Its age is from 1912 to 1920 (Taisho era) and the condition is very good for its old age.
There are 3 faint very thin hairline scratches that adds character and is a testament to its past care and use.
inkfrog terapeak