Vintage Japanese Round Red & Maki Tasseled Lacquer Lidded Box Shochikubai 4.5"

This is a Vintage Japanese red lacquer lidded box with over twenty layers of red lacquer over wood. Japanese lacquer is considered the finest in the world. The box is in the shape of a round hanging jingle bell and has a white and orange braided tassel on top.The gold designs on this box was painted on with gold lacquer, called makie. The design featured on the lid are Shochikubai, lucky elements known as The Three Friends of Winter. Sho is the pine tree for strength and longevity, green all winter. Chiku is bamboo which is strong and flexible and green all through winter. Bai are the plum blossoms who is first to bloom during winter. This design is auspicious and good luck. The lid features two fans and a scroll each featuring an element of shochikubai.

Having been in storage with exception to minor signs of use, it remains in good conditioning and in good polish. The box measures about 4 1/2" (11.5 cm) in diameter by 3 1/2" (9 cm)tall.