very large japanese antique money chest, edo era money box, zeni bako

Love Japanese Style Like We Do

A wonderful old antique Japanese box used for safely storing money. In the Edo period the Japanese government distributed a small, copper coin, known as the zeni which was used for around 260 years. The storage of zeni and other coins, by merchants, necessitated the development of money boxes such as this. These simply designed boxes were known as zeni bako.

Zeni bako had to be strong and were sturdily constructed of hardwoods. This very large and very heavy piece is made of thick keyaki, or Japanese zelkova wood. The wood has a lovely grain and has accumulated a beautiful patina over its many years.

It is a plain rectangular box with a simple round hole in the back,
in a top composed of two sections of wood. There is a lock, where the front top meets the front end of the box. Unlocking the top and removing the section of wood on the top made for easy access into the box.

The box is fitted with simple and minimal hand forged iron work around the money hole and a\for the front lock. Remnants of the iron studs around the top edge can be seen. There is a key to open the lock.

The box dates around the mid Edo period. With the greater use of paper money in the Meiji Era, the need for money boxes declined and by the Taisho era wood cash registers began to replace these boxes as Western ways were rapidly adopted.

This Zeni bako is in good overall condition for its age. There are knocks and bumps, a small crack in the wood at the top back, a small gap between the two top wood sections and signs of use, adding to its rustic charm. It is a very large and heavy box and would look great displayed at the side of a desk or sofa with a plant in an old hibachi. As well as making a beautiful display item it also doubles as a great storage box for your game, TV and computer accessories. A great piece for a collector of Japanese boxes.

- measures 25 cm (9.8”) across x 48 cm (18.9”) deep x 28 cm (11”) tall.
- weighs 8 kg (17.6 lbs)

(listing for money box only)

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ABOUT OUR VINTAGE, ANTIQUE AND OTHER ITEMS
We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

Information regarding the item and it’s age is obtained from dealers and our personal research. We do our best to give you the correct information but please be aware that we cannot guarantee this information.

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JAPANESE ANTIQUE FURNITURE
The roots of furniture production in Japan were function. Mastery and skill were evident in Japanese antique furniture but it was conceived of need and was more a folk craft than a fine art. Cabinetry craft developed in response to the demand for useful everyday containers, trunks and chests for totally functional purposes and that is where the true beauty of Japanese furniture lies.

The Japanese lived on tatami mats in small houses. Their artistic aesthetic emphasized minimalism and decorative furniture and personal possessions weren’t acquired like in the West. Antique furniture was basically a large range of storage chests from small sewing boxes to very large chests for storing futons.

It was the lower classes, the merchants, artisans and farmers who created the greatest demand for furniture, for use in their homes, shops and farms. Wherever a need existed, a corresponding cabinet or tansu was developed, leading to the vast array of styles, shapes and sizes in Japanese furniture.

In the Edo and Meiji era clothing tansu with drawers for kimono (isho dansu), sewing boxes (hari bako), vanities (kyodai) and cabinets for tea utensils (cha dansu) and crockery (mizuya dansu) were important items in the home. Wooden safes (zeni dansu) guarded valuables in homes and shops. The upper classes, descendants of samurai families, would have had special order sword chests (katana dansu) and writing desks. Those studying Noh had a costume trunk and a small chest of square dressers for storing masks (nomen dansu).

Sea captains had special chests for storing valuables and documents on board (zeni dansu) The village chemist had a medicine chest (kasuri dansu) with many small drawers. The barber had a tall thin chest (dogu bako) for combs , razors and scissors. There was a special chest for those using hand tools (kanagu dogu bako). A merchant had a small box to store name seals (han bako) and a box to store an abacus, ink stone and brushes (suzuribako) for bills and receipts. Lamp oil was delivered in an oil peddler's box (abura gyosho hako).

These are just a sample of the wonderful array of functional Japanese furniture that can still be used today for storing any items relative to your lifestyle, while at the same time, creating a beautiful interior accent and a reminder of days gone by.

MINGEI
Mingei are the tools and utensils that were used daily by the common people in Japan. They were inexpensive, simple and functional. Usually produced by hand, in large quantities, their artists were anonymous. They became representative of the local area where they were produced.

The word Mingei combines ‘min’ meaning common people and ‘gei’ meaning art - the art of the common people. It was coined by the Japanese philosopher Sōetsu Yanagi. He found beauty in ordinary crafts for daily use and argued that true beauty could be found only in the objects made by unknown people, in a spirit of selfless innocence and in close harmony with nature.