Posted 10 years ago
DaysiMeadows
(2 items)
Japanese Sandalwood wood covered bowl. It seems to be machine made, at least partially. The outside of the bowl has a type of circular design as from a rotary tool. I see a small hole in the lid's inside center and rings which again make me think rotary tool or machine. The scene on the lid seems hand etched. I think this piece dates to the 19th.-C but I'm still investigating. Would anyone more knowledgeable help correct or confirm this description? Thanks!
very beautiful and welcome to cw :)
Thank you Sean68! Glad to be here.
Your very welcome Daysi!!!!!
Hello, Is anyone able to confirm this description? This is an item which could potentially make it into a big Asian antiques sale but I need to make sure it is what I say it is. I have researched some, though not very in depth because I don't really know where to go on the web for reliable information without having to pay a high price tag for the info. I appreciate any help I can get from this community on this item. Thanks!
Looks Japanese with Mount Fuji in the background. I have a similar Bowl that was used as a tobacco box and it has the exact same decor on the lid. The sides however are carved with flowers in a central band. Will upload it if you wish to see it. RER(BOB)
Thank you Bob! I would appreciate the image. Do you know if the wood is indeed Zitan/Red Sandalwood?
Kindly,
Ms. Daysi
Here is the link to my similar Tobacco Box. BOB
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/124660-antique-japanese-sandalwood-tobacco-box
Hi Ms. Daysi! I'm really not sure what kind of wood this box is made of. I always thought sandalwood but I may have been wrong all these years. RER(BOB)
Thanks Rob, now I can mark this a mystery as solved!
Ms. Daysi
i also have a small japanese wooden box that has similar carvings on it but the top of the box is shaped either as a bird or a fish, over the years the sun has faded the wood but the inside of the box lid id black with the purple hues. This box was brought back from Japan by my uncle for my mother when he was apart of the occupational army. I would like to know its age and approx value and the significance of the bird or fish
Zitan was a term used by ancient Chinese to describe mysterious import red/purple wood imported from India during Ming dynasty. As ancient Chinese carpenters had never got a chance see the living trees, the term Zitan was not fixed to certain species. The Zitan furniture from Chinese imperial household were actually made from a range of trees, which has reddish wood in the center. Unfortunately, some of the trees(species) still remain unclear.
In current Chinese national standard of rosewood published by gov, the Zitan refers to, and only to Pterocarpus santalinus. Well, however, this one is, in my opinion, not Zitan wood, not even close to.
inherited, as you mentioned "the sun has faded the wood", I suspect the wood may not be Zitan. The Zitan wood from a newly cut tree looks red as blood, and then turns purple/black by the ultraviolet in sun shine. It could not be 'faded' by sun.