Antique Japanese Itomasu 1800’s

Used as a unit (one masu) - this bucket was a standard unit used by rice stores throughout Japan in the late Meiji and Taisho eras. The bucket held about 18 liters, or 40 pounds of rice. On the side is a stamp with the name of the rice store. Many additional smaller stamps can sometimes also be seen as official symbols given by government officials - they verified and approved that this bucket is an exact standard unit - one itomasu.