135 - JAPAN - 19th century

JAPAN - 19th century A cylindrical portable container for tableware (*keitai shôki*), designed to hold stackable lunch boxes (*bentô*) for eight people, and featuring a central cylindrical compartment intended for water or sake. The exterior is coated in black lacquer and adorned with a bold red family crest (*mon*), depicting the *maru ni itsutsu ken* motif (five double-edged swords arranged in a circle). The set features a perfectly fitting lid as well as side handles designed to accommodate a carrying rod, making it easy to transport. The interior features finely crafted compartments coated with a warm reddish-brown lacquer in the *shunkei* style (transparent lacquer), revealing the natural grain of the wood beneath the surface. Period: Japan—Edo Period, circa 1800 Dimensions: Height 42.5 cm, diameter 39 cm (Signs of wear, missing pieces...)