Antique Wooden Carrying Chest / Storage Piece, Ochoko-bako, 1914, Tōkyō

An authentic Taishō-period carrying chest with a characteristic top handle and sliding calligraphed panels on both sides.

Dimensions: height 56 cm, width 42 cm, depth 22.5 cm.

The inscriptions read “Taishō 3, auspicious day in June” (1914) and “ochoko, set for ten people”; one side notes “Tōkyō.”

Inside is a grid of compartments purpose-built to transport and store a complete set of ochoko (sake cups) safely and flat.

The wood shows a warm, timeworn patina.

Today it is a decorative object rich in history and a practical storage piece for small valuables, glassware, or curios—a calm Japanese statement that fits effortlessly into a refined interior.