Traditional Japanese Wooden Mixing Bowl, c 1868–1912

Authentic Japanese wooden dough bowl, traditionally known as a kibachi (木鉢), dating from the Meiji period.

Dimensions: height 11.5 cm, diameter 33 cm.

Originally, this bowl was used for preparing dough, such as for soba noodles or rice-based dishes. Its deep, rounded shape and sturdy wooden construction made it an essential item in the traditional Japanese kitchen.

The exterior of the bowl is black, with a weathered appearance that reveals its age and years of intensive use.

The interior features a particularly warm hue—chestnut red with a subtle sheen—achieved through the application of urushi lacquer. Over time, the lacquer has naturally worn, resulting in a rich patina and beautiful signs of age. The entire piece exudes calm, simplicity, and the poetic beauty of impermanence, perfectly in line with the Japanese principle of wabi-sabi.

The wooden bowl is striking as a fruit or nut bowl on a table, can serve as an elegant vide-poche in the hallway for keys and small items, or as a distinctive decorative object full of history and atmosphere. The rich texture, interplay of colors, and visible traces of use make each piece unique. This bowl is not only a true eye-catcher but also a silent witness to an era in which beauty and function went hand in hand.