Large & Unique 1930 Hand Carved & Lacquered Wood Japanese Tortoise Sculpture Box

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Large & Unique 1930 Hand Carved & Lacquered Wood Japanese Tortoise Sculpture Box

About the Item

Large, highly decorative and meaningful Japanese box with lid. It is pieces like this that make us as enthusiastic about our trade as the day we started. The moment we saw this Japanese work of art, we knew we had to own it. All hand carved out of wood and lacquered in different colors afterwards, it would have taken a skilled Japanese craftsman weeks rather than days to handcraft this striking box. The large and majestic tortoise does not mind sticking its neck out, but junior (who also functions as the lid handle) seems to feel safer from inside his shell and only takes a peek at what is going on outside. As in many cultures, most animals in Japanese culture also have a symbolic meaning and apart from a symbol for eternal life (or the circle of life) the tortoise also stands for wisdom, strength, reliability, determination, kindness and patience. If you look closely at the spots where this piece over the decades has been touched the most then you can see a hint of golden lacquer shining through. This patina makes this unique and very stylish piece even more beautiful to look at. Since we know little about Japanese culture, we are not sure where this box with lid would have been used for. Was it a luxurious fruitbowl or maybe for keeping potpourri? We don't know. What we do know is that there is not another one (even remotely similar) to be found anywhere in the world and that this work of art brings a smile to your face every time you look at it. We once learned that a great sculpture looks beautiful from every angle and this piece most certainly fits that bill. Displayed on a large credenza or in the middle of a table this unique work of art will never fail to impress and it also makes a great talking piece. Mind you, our price for this highly decorative Japanese box includes perfect packing and also worldwide delivery from our store to your door in just 4 workdays. Maximum width x depth x height: 22.8 x 16.9 x 8.25 inches. Maximum width x depth x height of inside box: 11.8 x 10.6 x 3.5 inches. We have a passion for the unique, for quality, for stylish yet practical and for craftsmanship of years gone by. Your purchases will be extremely well packaged and we look forward to serving you (again). You can shop all our 1000+ listings by pushing the button that reads 'View All From Seller'.

Dimensions:
Height: 8.25 in (20.96 cm)Width: 22.8 in (57.92 cm)Depth: 16.9 in (42.93 cm)
Style:
Art Deco (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Wood,Hand-Carved,Lacquered
Place of Origin:
Japan
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1930
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Please also read our item description.
Seller Location:
Lisse, NL
Reference Number:
Seller: FiGQ18251stDibs: LU2341313666132