Vintage Japanese Lacquer Bako with Hand-Painted Botan Peony Motif, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26M-008-5

Vintage Japanese Lacquer Bako with Hand-Painted Botan Peony Motif, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26M-008-5

A hand-painted urushi-style lacquer box adorned with a bold botan peony motif -- signed by the artist and finished in deep glossy black.

A bako is a traditional Japanese lidded box used to store letters, writing tools, personal keepsakes, or ceremonial objects. This vintage Japanese lacquer bako dates to the Late Showa period and showcases the enduring craft of Japanese lacquerware at its most expressive. The deep black lacquer ground provides a striking canvas for the hand-painted botan (peony) composition -- a full bloom flanked by buds, foliage, and trailing branches rendered in warm apricot, coral, and muted gold tones. The painting is signed in the lower corner with a red artist's seal, indicating this is a named artisan piece rather than a mass-produced souvenir item. The interior is finished in smooth, glossy black lacquer, and the close-fitting lift-off lid seats cleanly on the shallow rectangular body. The rounded corners and softly domed lid give the form an elegant, refined silhouette typical of quality Japanese craft objects from this era.

In a modern home, this handcrafted Japanese lacquer box is as functional as it is beautiful. Use it as a jewelry box on a bedroom dresser -- its roomy interior comfortably holds rings, earrings, and small accessories while the stunning peony lid becomes a living room accent in its own right. It works equally well as a desktop organizer for business cards, paper clips, and small stationery items, bringing a wabi-sabi aesthetic and Japandi style to any home office. The bold floral decoration also makes it a standout gift for collectors of vintage Japanese craft, or a unique housewarming gift for anyone who appreciates handmade decorative objects with genuine artistic provenance.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Wood core with lacquer finish; hand-painted polychrome decoration
• Use: Storage box for letters, writing tools, or personal keepsakes
• Modern Use: Jewelry box for bedroom decor; desktop organizer for home office storage; decorative accent for a living room shelf or console
• Features: Deep glossy black lacquer ground; hand-painted botan peony composition in apricot, coral, and gold tones; artist's red seal stamp in lower corner; close-fitting lift-off lid with softly domed profile; smooth black lacquer interior; rounded corners throughout
• Dimensions: 9 1/2"W x 12 1/2"D x 2 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent

A signed piece of vintage Japanese lacquerware that brings the timeless beauty of traditional urushi craft into any modern interior.

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 vintage 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.