Box

Townspeople had a hard-working life in the ordinary run of things. Their limited leisure could, for example, be spent outsdoors, picnicking. When the cherry blossom was out, this was celebrated by o-hanami, and in autumn the red maple leaves were admired in the form of momijigari. Picnic excursions were expecially common on these occasions and remain so today. Samurai and well-to-do merchants and craftsmen often had sets of matching picnic boxes. Food served in different compartments and boxes (o-bento) is something which many people recognise from Japanese restaurants, even outside Japan itself, and the practice has a long histry. It is still very common in Japan to buy or prepare food in o-bento containers, e.g. whengoing on a train journey. Lidded picnic box with five compartments. Wisteria (kiri) pattern. Various metal lacquers (maki-e) and "pear-skin pattern"., (nashiji). Probably 19th century. Formerly in the collection of Georg von Békésy, deposited by the Nobel Fondation.