Price guide to antique Japanese bamboo boxes. Bamboo is symbolic in Japanese Culture and has been used to make household items and structures for many years.
Shoko (active circa 1910)
A woven bamboo tonkotsu (tobacco box), and a kiseruzutsu (pipe case)
Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), or Showa (1926-1989) ear, early 20th century
The tonkotsu rectangular and woven in split bamboo and fitted with a closure of woven silk, signed on the underside Shoko kore o tsukuru; the muso-zutsu pipe case woven in split bamboo in a variety of patterns and fitted with a silver band and collar hardware
3 3/4in (9.6cm) high, the tonkotsu
FOOTNOTES
From the style of both the bamboo plaiting and the signature, the artist appears likely to have been a member of the Hayakawa Shokosai family lineage of bamboo artists active around 1910–1930.
Sold for US$ 1,000 (£ 706) inc. premium at Bonhams in 2018
A 19TH CENTURY JAPANESE MEIJI PERIOD CARVED BAMBOO TOBACCO BOX AND COVER with carved stag antler netsuke, decorated with mask heads. 8 cm x 8 cm.
Sold For: £300 at
Antique Japanese Woven Bento Box. Tightly woven case with bamboo and metal trim. Gold tassel, fabric lined. E&J Frankel sales receipt. — Dimensions: H: 6 inches: W: 8.75 inches: D: 4.75 inches —Sold For$125 at Uniques & Antiques, Inc. in 2017
A GOOD EARLY 20TH CENTURY JAPANESE MEIJI PERIOD SILVER AND BAMBOO BOX decorated with birds perched amongst foliage. 6Ins wide.
Sold For: £340 at
Hannam’s Auctioneers Ltd in 2016
WOOD, BAMBOO AND WICKER BOX Japanese. Of pagoda form. Length 18 ½”. Height 12”. Depth 10”. (100/150)
Sold For: $175 at AGOPB in 2016