Group of “Itabeni”, portable lip pallets

From the middle of Edo period (the 18th century), many portable make-up items -they were collectively called “Kaichu Kesho Dougu”- started to be made. One of them, the portable lip pallet was called “Itabeni”.
The main shapes of Itabeni were types of the box, the plate, and the doubled. These were made from ivory, antlers, tortoiseshell, metal, wood, and paper. Beni was brushed inside of it, and various designs were represented by Japanese lacquer, gold/silver lacquer, or inlay outside of it. There were both ready-made and custom-made. It showed that women bended to containers of cosmetics then. Itabeni which was small size and made by elaborate handcraft has handed down to the present skillful techniques of craftsmen and sensibilities of owners in those days.
When Beni brushed inside Itabeni finished, it was possible to bring it to Beni-ya, and ask to brush again.