​Sarabako (皿箱), Wooden Carrying Chest / Storage Piece, Japan, 1897

An authentic late-Meiji carrying chest with a top handle and a sliding front panel painted with hand-brushed calligraphy.

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

The inscriptions read “Meiji 30, April” (1897) and “nagazara, set for ten people,” followed by the owner’s name, Koyama Kisaburō. Inside are two columns of shelves designed to transport and store long serving plates safely and flat. The wood has developed a warm, timeworn patina through years of use, giving the piece a graphic, artisanal presence.

Original function: carrying and storage box (Sarabako, 皿箱) for long serving plates (nagazara).

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