Tobacco box, Japan, 19th century

Tobacco box in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number W.455:1 to 3-1916), made in Japan, dated 19th century. The museum's brief description reads: Tobacco box decorated with standing cranes, reishi fungus and applied metal, Japan, 19th century. Museum description: Tonkotsu (tobacco box) decorated with four standing cranes. Hollowed out fungus in the form of a rectangular container and lid, with metal encrustations. The cord runs along the outside of the tonkotsu for half its length where it enters into the hollow of the container and is tied together. The museum records it as Reishi fungus and applied metal, measuring Height 8.6 cm; Width 5.5 cm; Depth 3.1 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.