Explore the Hidehira-nuri collection
Tamoto Bako — hand-painted chrysanthemums and gold-leaf clouds, for your papers
Tamoto Bako — hand-painted chrysanthemums and gold-leaf clouds, for your papers
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Why this box
A spray of chrysanthemums runs across the lid of this box, so the papers and letters inside stay out of sight without disappearing into a plain drawer. Lift the lid and the interior is lined in deep red cloth, made to hold documents and small keepsakes without a second thought.
The pattern
The lid carries two motifs from Hidehira-nuri, the lacquer tradition of Hiraizumi in Iwate. The chrysanthemums across the centre are drawn by hand, in gold and orange lacquer against the black ground. At two corners sit Genji-gumo, cloud shapes laid down in red lacquer with gold leaf set inside them as diamonds and crossed bars.
The workshop
Marusan Shikki is a fifth-generation workshop in Ichinoseki, founded in 1904. The box starts as a hoo (magnolia) wood base. It is the only Hidehira-nuri workshop that still carries every stage — wood-turning, undercoating, lacquer painting and the final gold leaf — under its own roof.
What to know before you buy
This box is kept in stock and usually ships within about a week. It's a lacquered wood object rather than tableware, so care stays simple. Keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades lacquer over time, and wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid water and damp cloths, since moisture can work into the wood joints. Handle the lid gently — a hard knock can chip the gold leaf.
Details
W315 × D235 × H50 mm, 650g. Shipped from Japan via DHL with tracking.
If you'd like a place to keep papers and small keepsakes without a second thought, you can order below; this piece is in stock and usually ships within about a week. Curious about care or sizing before you commit? Write to us; we read and answer every message ourselves.
Specifications
Specifications
- Category: Box
- Type: Box
- Material: Hoo (magnolia) wood, urushi lacquer, gold leaf, red cloth-lined interior
- Technique: Hidehira-nuri
- Size: W315 × D235 × H50 mm
- Weight: 650g
Heritage & Credentials
Heritage & Credentials
Hidehira-nuri carries a documented history and an official craft designation.
- Designated a Traditional Craft (伝統的工芸品) by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1985.
- Traces to the late Heian period, when Fujiwara no Hidehira brought lacquer craftsmen from Kyoto to what is now Iwate.
- Rooted in the Hiraizumi area of Iwate, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Kept alive today by only two dedicated workshops in Japan.
- Its production method is government-defined down to the base coat, hon-kataji, the most robust of Japan's lacquer primers.
Care & Notice
Care & Notice
This is handmade Hidehira-nuri lacquerware, not tableware. It only needs dry care.
- Wipe the outer surface with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid water and damp cloths, since moisture can work into the wood and loosen the lacquer.
- The interior is lined in red cloth for holding documents and papers. Keep it dry, and shake out dust rather than wiping it with anything damp.
- Handle it gently. A hard knock or drop can chip the gold leaf or crack the lacquer underneath.
- Keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades lacquer over time.
- Store in a stable spot away from vents and radiators, to avoid overly dry air.
- Cured lacquer rarely causes an allergic reaction. If your skin is sensitive, you may want to test it against the inside of your wrist first.
About Shipping
About Shipping
Every piece ships from Japan.
- We ship to the UK and the EU, via DHL, with tracking included.
- This sale is made under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms. If import duty applies, it's billed directly to Toramonten, not to you.
- Customs authorities may contact the recipient directly, and we can't say in advance which orders this might affect.
- This piece is in stock and ships within about a week of your order.
About the workshop
About the workshop
