What is a Japanese puzzle box?

A Japanese puzzle box, called himitsu-bako, are wooden boxes which keep items safe from theft through an intricate mechanical pattern. These boxes require specific steps moving the mechanism to release the obscured lid, opening to reveal the cavity within.

How do I clean a Japanese lacquer box?

To clean a Japanese lacquer box, start by moistening a soft lint-free cloth with warm water. Ring it out and then gently rub every surface. Do not use soap as it may damage the lacquer. Dry the box promptly with a second soft, dry lint-free cloth. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Japanese lacquer boxes.

Which object in a Japanese writing box was considered the most precious and permanent?

The inkstone was the most precious and permanent object in a Japanese writing set. It is a mortar used for mixing dry ink with water for the purposes of writing. You'll find a selection of Japanese writing boxes on 1stDibs.

Japanese Tissue Boxes

Bamboo Appetizer Spreader Knives, Small, Set of 5

Located in New York, NY

. Marked 'Japan' on blade, and on box in two places as shown. With original box and tissue paper.

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Barware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Bamboo Appetizer Spreader Knives, Small, Set of 5

H 0.5 in W 4.07 in D 0.5 in

‘Twiggy’ by Arthur Steel Limited Edition

By Arthur Steel

Located in London, GB

and 20 inch prints are titled, numbered, signed and carefully enfolded in acid free tissue paper

Category

1970s Modern Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Arthur Steel
‘Twiggy’ by Arthur Steel Limited Edition, 1966 (printed later)

H 28.5 in W 40 in

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Saint-Tropez Boucherie, French Riviera, Estate Edition Photograph

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Discover the quintessence of French Riviera charm in Slim Aarons' iconic photograph, 'Saint-Tropez Boucherie,' on Rue des Commercants, Saint-Tropez, 1971. This image is a beautiful i...

Category

1970s Realist Landscape Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons
Saint-Tropez Boucherie, French Riviera, Estate Edition Photograph, 1971, printed later

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H 40 in W 60 in

Wonderful French Ormolu Purple Enamel Gilt Bronze Bow Picture Frame Miniature

Located in Roslyn, NY

A wonderful and rare French ormolu bronze and purple enamel picture frame with a miniature on the top with bows and tassels. Frame: 10" W X 15" H Picture:7" W X 9&q...

Category

Vintage 1930s French Belle Époque Picture Frames

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Wonderful French Ormolu Purple Enamel Gilt Bronze Bow Picture Frame Miniature

H 15 in W 10 in D 0.65 in

Monumental Chinese Ancestral Matriarch Scroll Portrait Painting

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Monumental Chinese Qing ancestor scroll portrait painting of a high ranking official or Imperial court matriarch. Features a intricately decorated Ming style red robed matriarch depi...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings

Materials

Linen, Silk, Plexiglass, Wood, Lacquer, Paper

Monumental Chinese Ancestral Matriarch Scroll Portrait Painting

H 77.5 in W 36.5 in D 2.5 in

Vintage Hand-Crafted Belgian Pewter Cloche or food Cover

Located in Houston, TX

Very heavy, simple, large silver-colored cloche from Rita Jorden in Belgium. Hand-cast construction with a beautiful handle on the top. Decorative and functional. This is a a piece t...

Category

1990s Belgian Other Centerpieces

Materials

Pewter

Vintage Hand-Crafted Belgian Pewter Cloche or food Cover

H 10 in W 20 in D 16 in

Victorian, Castellani, Brass Paper Knife, Onyx Decoration, Lux Desk Accessories

By Castellani

Located in Glasgow, GB

Immerse yourself in the divinity of this late 19th-century Italian letter opener, attributed to the masterful Michelangelo Caetani for Castellani, Italy. Crafted with meticulous arti...

Category

Antique 1880s Italian Renaissance Revival Letter Openers

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Victorian, Castellani, Brass Paper Knife, Onyx Decoration, Lux Desk Accessories

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H 2.76 in W 9.85 in D 2.37 in

Vintage Flat File Cabinet

Located in Oakville, CT

Cole Steel Flat File Overall Dimensions: 36 1/2" x 46 1/2" x 39" high Top Dimensions: 35 1/2" x 46 1/2" Inner Drawer Dimensions: 31 1/2 x 43" Materials: Steel

Category

Mid-20th Century American Cabinets

Materials

Steel

Vintage Flat File Cabinet

H 39 in W 46.5 in D 36.5 in

Chinese Qing Four Panel Carved Soapstone Coromandel Screen

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Impressive Chinese export late Qing dynasty four-panel folding Coromandel screen featuring carved soapstone. The ebony lacquered panels are decorated with colorful carved scholars ob...

Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens

Materials

Soapstone, Brass

Chinese Qing Four Panel Carved Soapstone Coromandel Screen

H 72 in W 65 in D 1 in

English Sheffield Silver Plate Victorian Style Meat Dome

By Sheffield Silver Co.

Located in Tarry Town, NY

Elevate your dining experience with the exquisite charm of our English sheffield silver plate tableware meat dome cover. This captivating cloche-shaped piece showcase a stunning fin...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

English Sheffield Silver Plate Victorian Style Meat Dome

H 11 in W 8 in D 3 in

19th Century French Neoclassical Distressed Wood & Glass Cloche/Dome

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

19th Century French Neoclassical Distressed Wood & Glass Cloche/Dome France, 1890s A stunning piece from 19th-century France, this neoclassical distressed wood and glass cloche/dom...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Glass

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Neoclassical Distressed Wood & Glass Cloche/Dome

H 16 in W 8.5 in D 8.5 in

Antique George V Sterling Silver Letter Opener / Bookmark (1912)

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique George V English sterling silver paper knife/letter opener/bookmark; an addition to our silver flatware collection. This exceptiona...

Category

Vintage 1910s English Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique George V Sterling Silver Letter Opener / Bookmark (1912)

Victorian Burr Walnut Fitted Vanity Box

Located in Northampton, GB

Fitted With Silver & Mother of Pearl From our Vanity Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Victorian Burr Walnut Vanity Box. The Vanity Box of rectangular form veneered in B...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Victorian Burr Walnut Fitted Vanity Box

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H 8.66 in W 13 in D 9.84 in

Antique Serving Silver Plated Meat Food Turkey Dome Cover Victorian Cloche Large

By Sheffield Mfg. Co 1

Located in Roslyn, NY

A wonderful silver plated extra large antique serving meat food turkey dome / cover, in the Victorian style, finished with a wonderful fleur de lis crest on one side, unfortunately t...

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Victorian Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Serving Silver Plated Meat Food Turkey Dome Cover Victorian Cloche Large

H 12 in W 19.5 in D 16 in

German Silver Gilt Minaudière Louis Kuppenheim

By Louis Kuppenheim

Located in Newark, England

The minaudière of rectangular form with curved corners features a repousse monkey which humorously goes through the case with the front side of the monkey on the cover and the rear s...

Category

Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Sterling Silver

Materials

Gold Plate, Silver

German Silver Gilt Minaudière Louis Kuppenheim

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H 4.33 in W 2.56 in D 0.8 in

Important Russian silver paper knife, Edward VII as a child, English royalty

Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL

Rare and extremely important Russian silver paper knife, it was probably made as a presentation gift to someone in the royal family, either the British or the Russian, the knife was ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Russian Victorian Letter Openers

Materials

Silver

Important Russian silver paper knife, Edward VII as a child, English royalty

H 3.2 in W 9.9 in D 2.4 in

19th Century, Chinese Box, Document and Art Storage Box

Located in Somis, CA

All original box is from Shanxi province. Such a box is deliberately made with reinforced corners and no decoration. Red lacquer insets contrasting with the dark frameworks creates v...

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

19th Century, Chinese Box, Document and Art Storage Box

H 8 in W 21 in D 14.5 in

Flamenco Dancers Antonio, Antonio Ruiz Soler and Rosario, Florence Perez Padilla

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Les Danseurs Espagnols Rosario and Antonio" referring to the famous Flamenco dancers, Antonio Ruiz Soler and Florence Perez Padilla c.1945 is a pastel and black...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

Jean Target
Flamenco Dancers Antonio, Antonio Ruiz Soler and Rosario, Florence Perez Padilla, c.1945

H 21.75 in W 18 in D 0.65 in

Recent Sales

Cultured Akoya Pearl Bracelet with Enamel Floral Accents in Yellow Gold

Located in Sherman Oaks, CA

enamel terminating in a 14 KT yellow gold hidden box clasp with safety, accented with a floral enamel

Category

1990s American Modern Beaded Bracelets

Materials

Pearl, 14k Gold

Cultured Akoya Pearl Bracelet with Enamel Floral Accents in Yellow Gold

L 7 in

Lucien Piccard Vintage Pearl and Blue Crystal Bracelet in Yellow Gold

Located in Sherman Oaks, CA

accented with blue crystal terminating in a 14KT yellow gold hidden box clasp with safety. Bright and

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Beaded Bracelets

Materials

Crystal, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold

Lucien Piccard Vintage Pearl and Blue Crystal Bracelet in Yellow Gold

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L 7 in

Ladurée Savoir Vivre The Art of Fine Living Book by Maud Hacker

Located in New York, NY

Hardcover 304 pages with gilt edges, wrapped in tissue paper, presented in a gift box More than 300 color

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Books

Materials

Paper

Ladurée Savoir Vivre The Art of Fine Living Book by Maud Hacker

H 6.5 in W 6.125 in D 3 in

Pair Mikimoto Pearl Necklaces 1958 New in Boxes

By Mikimoto

Located in Southbury, CT

to the last millimeter. Even the cream-colored tissue paper in both boxes is original and intact

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Modern Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Pearl

Pair Mikimoto Pearl Necklaces 1958 New in Boxes

Chrome and Brass Miami Beach Lighter, 1960

Located in New York, NY

" "FLORIDA 1960" on front and on back "AMERICAN LEGION" "NATIONAL CONVENTION", with original box and tissue

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Brass, Enamel, Chrome

Chrome and Brass Miami Beach Lighter, 1960

H 1.75 in W 2.13 in D 0.38 in

1950s Rare Christian Dior for Japan Blue Suit

By Christian Dior

Located in Rockwood, ON

chic. This was made specifically for the Japanese market during the early licensing of the Dior house

Category

1950s Suits, Outfits and Ensembles

1950s Rare Christian Dior for Japan Blue Suit

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Questions About Japanese Tissue Boxes

What is a Japanese puzzle box?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
A Japanese puzzle box, called himitsu-bako, are wooden boxes which keep items safe from theft through an intricate mechanical pattern. These boxes require specific steps moving the mechanism to release the obscured lid, opening to reveal the cavity within.
How do I clean a Japanese lacquer box?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
To clean a Japanese lacquer box, start by moistening a soft lint-free cloth with warm water. Ring it out and then gently rub every surface. Do not use soap as it may damage the lacquer. Dry the box promptly with a second soft, dry lint-free cloth. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Japanese lacquer boxes.
Which object in a Japanese writing box was considered the most precious and permanent?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
The inkstone was the most precious and permanent object in a Japanese writing set. It is a mortar used for mixing dry ink with water for the purposes of writing. You'll find a selection of Japanese writing boxes on 1stDibs.