Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13

Japanese Kusuri Dansu – Apothecary Box With Yosegi Marquetry & Raden Inlays

$1,707.14per item
£1,258.15per item
€1,430per item
CA$2,336.70per item
A$2,617.22per item
CHF 1,361.83per item
MX$31,786.01per item
NOK 17,264.53per item
SEK 16,290.37per item
DKK 10,883.23per item
Quantity
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

"Japanese Kusuri Dansu – Apothecary Box With Yosegi Marquetry & Raden Inlays " A finely crafted Japanese Kusuri Dansu (薬箪笥), or apothecary chest, featuring exceptional geometric marquetry (yosegi-zaiku), traditional to the Hakone region, and detailed mother-of-pearl inlay (raden) set into black lacquer panels. This compact cabinet would have originally served to store medicines, herbs, or valuable small items in a merchant or healer’s household. The chest comprises nine drawers—seven of standard size and two larger ones—with the largest drawer distinctly marked with twin artisan symbols, reflecting traditional Japanese workshop practices. All drawers are inscribed with a carved “X”-shaped assembly mark, confirming handcrafted joinery and careful construction. The top compartment opens via a hinged lid, revealing a lacquered interior with delicate floral raden motifs, suggesting use for storing precious items or writing instruments. The marquetry features a range of traditional Japanese patterns—asanoha, kikkō, and illusionistic cubes—crafted from contrasting natural woods. Fitted with original brass handles and escutcheons, this piece is in good antique condition with gentle wear consistent with age. The joinery remains tight, and the inlays are well preserved, making it both a functional piece and a collector’s decorative object. Condition: Structurally sound with original hardware and patina Minor surface wear and age-related marks throughout Raden inlay intact; marquetry clean and vivid One drawer marked with double joiner’s symbol—possibly indicating a master drawer or reinforced buil The key is missing Dimensions: H 38.5 cm × W 35.5 cm × D 18.5 cm Origin: Japan Period: Late 19th century (Meiji period) Materials: Mixed woods, yosegi-zaiku marquetry, black lacquer, mother-of-pearl (raden), brass hardware
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.16 in (38.5 cm)Width: 13.98 in (35.5 cm)Depth: 7.29 in (18.5 cm)
  • Style:
    Meiji (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Wood,Inlay
  • Place of Origin:
    Japan
  • Period:
    19th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    19th century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. normal age traces.
  • Seller Location:
    Bilzen, BE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU10361245791552

More From This Seller

View All
Sèvres Porcelain Box, Cobalt Blue With A Fencers Decor
By Keramos Sèvres
Located in Bilzen, BE
A cobalt blue and gold leaf porcelain box with gilt metal mounts and a decoration of fencers on the lid. Hand painted and marked inside the lid. 7.2 x 12.7 cm, height 4.7 cm.
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Sèvres Porcelain Box, Cobalt Blue With A Fencers Decor

Sèvres Porcelain Box, Cobalt Blue With A Fencers Decor

$561
Carved ebony Box, Anglo-indian Box From Vizagapatam
Located in Bilzen, BE
An extraordinary Anglo-Indian box from Vizagapatam in fully carved solid ebony, late 19th century. Filigree ornate and sculpted floral decoration...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ebony

Carved ebony Box, Anglo-indian Box From Vizagapatam

Carved ebony Box, Anglo-indian Box From Vizagapatam

$752
Antique round glass box with miniature painting, late 19th century
Located in Bilzen, BE
An antique round glass box with in the lid a painted miniature from a noble lady Late 19th century The inside of the lid has a mirror The glass box have a frame from gilded brass Dia...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Antique round glass box with miniature painting, late 19th century

Antique round glass box with miniature painting, late 19th century

$537
Gilt Bronze Box With Miniature Of Napoleon Bonaparte, 19th Century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Gilt bronze box with miniature of Napoleon Bonaparte painted on porcelain from the 19th century. 7.5 x 9.5 cm, height 3.4 cm
Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Gilt Bronze Box With Miniature Of Napoleon Bonaparte, 19th Century

Gilt Bronze Box With Miniature Of Napoleon Bonaparte, 19th Century

$704
Malachite hexagonal box, ca 1930
Located in Bilzen, BE
A complete malachite box from around 1930 in a hexagonal shape, with a loose lid This is the kind of malachite what's coming from Congo the box meassures 8.2 x 8.2 cm and has a tota...
Category

Vintage 1920s Congolese Art Deco Decorative Boxes

Materials

Malachite

Malachite hexagonal box, ca 1930

Malachite hexagonal box, ca 1930

$549
Porcelain Box Italian Capodimonte XIXth Century.
By Capodimonte
Located in Bilzen, BE
A beautiful antique 19th century Capodimonte porcelain jewelery box in high relief and hand painted decoration with bronze gilt frame 10.5 x 7.5 cm, height 3.4 cm Perfect condition, ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Porcelain Box Italian Capodimonte XIXth Century.

Porcelain Box Italian Capodimonte XIXth Century.

$525

You May Also Like

Japanese Kobako Yosegi Zaiku marquetry roll-top box
Located in Delft, NL
Japanese Kobako Yosegi Zaiku marquetry roll-top box A Japanese Kobako box, small and very light box with a roll-top door. A box, designed with beautiful Yosegi Zaiku inlay work (marquetry). Made in the Hakone region Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku is a type of traditional Japanese inlay...
Category

20th Century Japanese Decorative Boxes

Materials

Fruitwood

Japanese Kobako Yosegi Zaiku marquetry roll-top box

Japanese Kobako Yosegi Zaiku marquetry roll-top box

$775
Small Japanese Marquetry Cabinet Yosegi Zaiku 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very beautiful Japanese jewelry cabinet in Yosegi-zaiku marquetry composed of six drawers. The whole is inlaid with geometrically shaped pieces of wood and decorated with motifs resembling kamon...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Furniture

Materials

Wood

Small Japanese Marquetry Cabinet Yosegi Zaiku 19th Century

Small Japanese Marquetry Cabinet Yosegi Zaiku 19th Century

$1,432
Marquetry Inlayed Covered Moderne Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous marquetry French decorative box with lid. In the French moderne style. Add some "chic" to your design project. Beautiful detail work inside and out.
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Marquetry Inlayed Covered Moderne Box

Marquetry Inlayed Covered Moderne Box

$400
Antique English Large Tunbridge Box With Marquetry Inlay
By Tunbridge Ware
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique English Tunbridge box with geometric inlay, hinged lid, red velvet interior, felted bottom and comes with working key. The box with a diamond form inlaid medallion flanked...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Antique English Large Tunbridge Box With Marquetry Inlay

Antique English Large Tunbridge Box With Marquetry Inlay

$535
Japanese Lacquer Box with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay and Parquetry Drawers
Located in Yonkers, NY
A finely crafted Japanese tabletop cabinet from the early 20th century, this compact storage piece is richly detailed with traditional decorative techniques and export-era flourishes...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Japanese Lacquer Box with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay and Parquetry Drawers

Japanese Lacquer Box with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay and Parquetry Drawers

$890
Unusual Japanese Lacquer Inkstone Box with MOP Inlays
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese black lacquer box with mother of pearl inlays circa early 20th century, end of Meiji period. It was likely to be used to store inkstone or other scholarly items. The piece displays several interesting characteristics that appear puzzling initially. First, the form is not typical Japanese, but more Chinese and Korean, with its scalloped base. Second, the decoration of MOP inlays also suggests a Korean and Chinese affiliation, especially with the linear borders and the scrolling cloud patters on the sides of the box. These two observations suggest that the box may be from Ryukyu Island instead of Japanese mainland. Third, strikingly in the center of the cover, a bold quarterly floral pattern outlined with MOP was filled with a striking mottled red lacquer using tsugaru nuri...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Lacquer

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Unusual Japanese Lacquer Inkstone Box with MOP Inlays

Unusual Japanese Lacquer Inkstone Box with MOP Inlays

$4,800