Japanese urushi lacquer box with mother-of-pearl kamon decoration

A very elegant square contemporary Japanese jūbako box made in Aizu lacquer, with a superb floral decoration painted in circles in the spirit of kamon, the Japanese coat of arms, in shades of red and green with gold powder, all in light relief.

Traditionally, jūbako are boxes in which food is presented on special occasions, such as New Year's Eve, but they can have many uses and are highly decorative objects. This one was created in the prefecture of Fukushima, in Aizu to be precise, where a rich tradition of lacquerware, aizu-nuri, began in the 14th century.

Its structure is made from wood that has been dried for 3 years to remove its astringency, making it suitable for food use. Several coats of lacquer were then applied, finishing with the hana-nuri technique, specific to the region, which involves adding a little oil to bring out the brilliance of the lacquered objects even more. The result is a striking contrast between the extremely deep black exterior, the superb vermilion-red interior and the gold-edged borders. The delicate motifs add to the elegance of this box.

It is contemporary and in very good overall condition, but has suffered a small impact on 2 corners. Visually imperceptible when the box is closed, it has a small crack in 2 places when it is opened, and the gold edging has flaked off. This in no way detracts from the beauty of this box, as the spirit of Japanese objects adapts perfectly to the passing of time and gives things that extra aura, but be aware of this when you consider buying.

A precious work for yourself or to a lover of Japanese culture, who will surely appreciate the delicacy of this work

This object is one-of-a-kind.

The traditional Japanese lacquer, urushi, is made from the sap of the lacquer tree (Rhus Verniciflua), which flows out after incision of the bark. It is a very precious material, a tree will only give a maximum of 200ml of sap in its life, which is worked by craftsmen each specialized in a particular stage. It takes many slow and meticulous operations to give life to lacquered objects. It is the oldest craft in Japan! Initially used to protect and waterproof objects, this immutable craft has become an art of extreme sophistication. If you want to know more about the art of Japanese lacquerware, you can read our dedicated article here.

This object keeps in memory the hand of the craftsman who designed it with patience. It will accompany your daily life, bringing its delicate and refined beauty, while contributing to the preservation of unique craftsmanship.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS Clean with a very soft cloth to avoid scratches, soaked with a little warm water if necessary (never soak your lacquered objects). No microwave, dishwasher, dryer. Do not expose to direct sunlight for a long time (risk of discoloration). If the atmosphere is very dry and very hot, and to avoid the risk of cracking, you can place a glass filled with water next to your lacquered object.

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