Antique Japanese Merchant's Portable Cash Box (Choba-bako) with Soroban Abacus, Taisho period, 1912-1926 | SKU: 26M-754-3

Antique Japanese Merchant's Portable Cash Box (Choba-bako) with Soroban Abacus, Taisho period, 1912-1926 | SKU: 26M-754-3

A rare Taisho-era merchant's portable cash and accounts box, complete with its original soroban abacus -- a remarkable survival of Japanese antique commercial craft.

A choba-bako is a traditional Japanese merchant's portable strongbox, used by shopkeepers and traveling traders to secure cash, seals, and important documents while keeping accounting tools close at hand. This striking example dates to the Taisho period (1912-1926) and is constructed from boldly grained hardwood -- likely sugi (Japanese cedar) based on its distinctive swirling figure -- finished in a deep, lacquer-darkened tone that has mellowed beautifully with age. The exterior is reinforced at every corner and edge with hand-hammered copper fittings, riveted in the traditional manner, lending the box both structural integrity and a robust, artisanal character typical of handcrafted Japanese merchant furniture. A curved copper carry handle is mounted to the hinged lid, which opens to reveal a roomy interior compartment for documents or valuables. Flanking the main body on the front face are two pull-out drawers -- a shallow upper drawer fitted with a small round knob pull, and a deeper lower drawer with a cast metal bail handle -- designed to hold coins, seals, or daily accounting essentials. Most remarkably, the larger lower drawer doubles as a storage sleeve for the accompanying soroban (abacus), a compact wooden bead frame with turned wood beads in excellent working order, which slides neatly inside.

In a modern home, this choba-bako makes a captivating home office storage piece -- use the spacious lid compartment for stationery, the drawers for small supplies, and display the soroban alongside as a conversation piece. Its rich patina and bold wood grain make it equally at home as a living room accent on a bookshelf or sideboard in a Japandi-style or wabi-sabi interior. It also serves as a unique jewelry box and keepsake chest on a bedroom dresser, with the soroban displayed beside it as a piece of sculptural folk art. A truly distinctive housewarming gift or gift for collectors of Japanese antique furniture and antique Japanese craft.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: Taisho period, 1912-1926
• Material: Boldly grained hardwood (likely sugi/Japanese cedar), hand-hammered copper corner and edge fittings, cast metal hardware; soroban frame and beads in turned hardwood
• Use: Merchant's portable cash box and accounts chest; lower drawer designed to house the accompanying soroban abacus for on-the-spot calculations
• Modern Use: Home office desk organizer and stationery box; bedroom jewelry chest and keepsake box; living room decorative accent with soroban displayed as sculptural folk art
• Features: Hinged lift lid with copper carry handle and copper corner plates; spacious interior document/cash compartment; multiple pull-out drawers on front face with individual metal pulls; soroban abacus included and stored in lower drawer; copper riveted reinforcements throughout; rich aged patina
• Dimensions: 5"W x 9 1/2"D x 5 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and complete set of Japanese antique merchant's furniture -- this choba-bako with its original soroban brings a century of commercial history and handcrafted beauty to any modern home or collection.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.