Japanese Antique Sewing Box Haribako Lidded 4 Drawer Tansu Maple & Fir Wood

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 4 drawers with a hinged top front lid.  It was made from dark stained Japanese Maple (Momiji) and Fir (Katsura) with Cryptomeria (Sugi) and Paulownia (Kirinoki) woods to the interior of the piece.
It measures 11.5 inches wide by 9 inches high by 7 inches deep.
Opening the hinged lid gives access to a 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.
There is a verticle slot to the right side rear top that was used to store a measuring ruler (not included) called Shaku. This measurement was banned with penalties after WW2 in place of the metric system; however, since it is the traditional measurement of choice in making kimonos, it can still be found available.  After 1961, the use of the Shaku was a criminal act but that didn't stop people from using it.
The metal hardware is original to the piece. Its age is from 1910 to 1920 (Taisho era) and the condition is very good for its old age.
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