Japanese Wooden Bucket (Tsukemono-oke) with Lid – 1940s

Round Japanese pickling tub, originally used to salt and ferment vegetables. The body is built from vertical wooden staves and held tight by dark bamboo hoops (taga)—true craftsmanship with a beautifully aged patina.

Dimensions: height 56 cm, diameter 46 cm
Materials: Japanese cedar with bamboo hoops. Honest signs of use consistent with age; sturdy and full of character.

A fixed, arched carry handle strengthens the construction. The bucket retains its two-part lid system: a recessed inner drop-lid (otoshibuta) with finger notch that rests on the contents, and an outer lid with two cross battens that once supported a weight (tsukemono-ishi) to keep everything under brine—clear evidence of its working kitchen origin.

Today it reads as a very decorative wabi-sabi object with effortless new uses: a striking plant display, or a generous storage vessel for onions, potatoes, and kitchen goods; it also brings warmth and presence to a hallway or living room.