Vintage Japanese Sewing Box / Haribako (22J-293)

This is a vintage Japanese sewing box called Hari Bako that was constructed out of Japanese Kuwanoki (Mulberry), Tochinoki (Horse Chestnuts) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods.

Its age is from the Taisho period (1910's-920's) and it was originally used to store sewing accoutrements, spools of thread, a pin cushion with pins and other tools used by a seamtress or tailor.  Present day purposes would include using it as a jewelry box, a keepsake or small collectibles box, a stationary box on a desk or a cosmetics box on a dresser.