Japanese Meiji period wood kiseruzutsu and tonkotsu pipe case and tobacco box
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late 19th/early 20th century
This ensemble comprises a Japanese kiseruzutsu (pipe case) and a tonkotsu (tobacco box), dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. The tonkotsu is fashioned in the whimsical form of Tenaga, a figure from Japanese folklore, constructed from bamboo and boxwood.
The box features mother-of-pearl inlaid eyes, and its design includes a removable face section to access the internal compartment. Accompanying the box is a kiseruzutsu, a traditional Japanese pipe case, sculpted in the form of Ashinaga, another character from Japanese folklore. The two pieces are connected by a fabric cord adorned with a red coral branch. The tonkotsu measures approximately 4.25 by 3.5 by 2.5 inches, while the kiseruzutsu pipe holder measures 8 inches in length.
These pieces exemplify the intricate woodcarving and functional artistry characteristic of the Meiji period, serving as personal accessories for carrying tobacco and smoking implements.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- Bamboo, boxwood, mother of pearl, fabric, red coral
- Dimensions
- Box: 4.25 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches; pipe holder: 8 inches length
Design
- Motifs
- Tenaga and Ashinaga Japanese folklore figures
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.