Old Japanese Tea Chest with Shinto Text Fragments, c. 1950–1970

A remarkable old Japanese tea chest from the Shōwa period, dating from c. 1950–1970. Originally used for storing tea, the chest has a highly decorative appearance thanks to its exterior covering of Japanese Shinto texts.

Dimensions: height 48.5 cm, width 67.5 cm, depth 43 cm.

The outside is entirely covered with Japanese text sheets, composed of fine vertical lines of script, framed sections and densely written fragments on a warm brown-beige background. The many Japanese characters give the chest a calm, graphic and almost ritual appearance. The Shinto texts add a particularly traditional and authentic character.

The paper covering has been varnished, giving the surface extra protection against wear and a beautiful, lightly glossy finish. The combination of old paper, varnish, visible traces of use and natural discoloration gives the chest a strong wabi-sabi presence.

The interior is lined with aluminium, reflecting its original function as a practical tea chest. Its spacious interior, sturdy construction and loose lid make it highly usable today as a decorative storage chest for textiles, magazines, documents, shop materials or other objects.

Thanks to its size and strong visual presence, this chest also works beautifully as a plant stand, low display chest, pedestal or characterful decorative element in an interior or retail space.

The chest is in beautiful vintage condition, with normal signs of age, discoloration and small traces of use consistent with its age, material and function.