МАЭ № 13-2

Jubako – a set of lunch boxes

Japanese

early 19th c.

wood, bamboo, lacquer, glue, bamboo fiber

height 20.0; width 17.5; length 17.5

Jubako is a set of lunch or picnic boxes used for serving Japanese meal, including that at the open air. This jubako is an example of traditional lacquered wickerwork. The form is cubic, consists of a black lacquer platform with a handle and three square boxes for dishes, placed one upon another. The bottom box stands on the platform, the upper has a cover. The lunch boxes themselves are made of woven bamboo vein. Their interiors are painted with red lacquer. Black stylized characters 壽 ju – “long life” and福 fuku – “good fortune” are interwoven into surface.

Ethnography of East and South-East Asia