Antique Japanese Storage Basket (Tsuzura) – Taishō Period, 1920

A rare Japanese tsuzura storage basket from the Taishō period (ca. 1920). Light yet sturdy, these baskets were traditionally used to store kimono, obi, and textiles.

Dimensions: height 22 cm, width 82 cm, depth 40 cm.

Crafted from finely woven bamboo, reinforced with washi paper, and finished with a dark lacquer coating, the surface has a glossy, deep brown texture while still revealing the woven pattern beneath.

On the front, a vivid vermilion kamon (family crest) is painted alongside the name 山田 (Yamada), identifying its original owner.

The interior is lined with decorative washi paper in soft tones with a repeating circle motif. An original seller’s label remains inside, from Kakizawa Hikohonten (柿澤彦舗), a shop specializing in traditional tsuzura storage baskets.

Age-related marks such as light wear and discoloration are present, adding to its wabi-sabi appeal – the quiet beauty of time and use that cannot be reproduced today.

A unique collector’s piece, historically significant yet still practical as an elegant storage solution for a modern home.