No-bentô

Set of items that make up a box for holding and transporting food and drink. There is a frame with a handle on top to make it easier to carry. On one side, it has a series of boxes for storing food. On the other, there are two tin bottles for the alcoholic beverage, sake. There are two smaller drawers for two sake glasses and five small plates for the food. The piece is made of wood and has a black Japanese urushi lacquer of exceptional quality. This layer is decorated using the maki-e technique, where a fine gold dust is applied to the fresh lacquer. The motifs evoke the seaside: shells, mollusks, and aquatic plants. These sets were designed for people to enjoy a picnic lunch: a key element of Japanese culture.