Antique Japanese Light Wood Ink-Stone Box

The history of Japanese ink & brush writing dates back to the 6th century, with early influences coming from China and Korea.

Japanese ink is made from a ‘Sumi (墨),’ an ink stick, and ‘Suzuri (硯),’ an ink-stone. Sumi is solid ink made from soot or charcoal mixed with glue and water, then molded into a stick form and dried. Suzuri is a stone used for grinding ink. It typically consists of a flat, rectangular stone with a shallow depression in the centre, where water is added to mix with Sumi, a solid ink sticks, to create liquid ink.

A Japanese Inkstone Box, ‘Suzuri Bako (硯箱)’ in Japanese, was made to contain tools for brush writing, including ink-stones, water droplets, brushes, ink sticks. As far as it is known today, the first written reference to an Inkstone box is in the early 10th century. Over time, it has been developed as furniture for the upper classes such as aristocrats and ‘Samurai’ families. Many pieces are luxuriously decorated with designs that match those of literary desks and paper boxes.

The top compartment of this Antique Box has hosted a Suzuri for making liquid ink. The inside of it, therefore, is almost completely covered with ink stains. The spilt ink remain elsewhere on this box too, which is a testament to its history and the passage of time. Together with other wear & tear, they are enhancing the character and authenticity of the piece. They tell a story of its previous owners and the ways in which it was used and cherished over the years.

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Dimensions: Hight 26cm, Width 25cm, Depth 37cm

Period: Meiji (1868-1912) / Taisho (1912-1926)