Studio: international art (22.1901)

Japanese Tobacco Boxes.

fig. 19

carved wood

form of this bag is a common one in
Japan, and is repeated in the dried citron-
rind of Fig. 3.

Although, as already stated, large num-
bers of metal tobacco boxes are now
produced in Japan, I have not come
across many old specimens made of that
material. The one shown in Fig. 27 is,
however, an interesting example, as it
exhibits in its technique the varied
processes of repousse, chasing, and in-
crustation.

In choosing from my small collection
the objects now illustrated, I have been

fig. 20 carved wood . , , , i • , ,

guided by the desire to show the great
range of material and form which the
to imitate a lotus root with growing stems and Japanese have made use of in the production
leaves. of such a simple article as a tobacco box. Bamboo,

By far the most popular way of carrying tobacco wood, palm-stem, bark, cocoanut, pearl shell,
in Japan is in a leather pouch. The leather basket-work, gourds, citron rind, fungus, stag-
employed for this purpose was formerly almost horn, leather, brocade, and metal-work have all
always of a soft deerskin. In

modern days a leather dressed as ^plg
a morocco or roan is often em-
ployed. The main interest of these
pouches is to be found in their
fittings. The clasps, buttons, and
chains with which they are bedecked
are often of solid silver, like the
example shown in Fig. 25. The
more ornate were chiefly worn by
wrestlers. Brocade and embroidered
bags were frequently used for to-
bacco. The one illustrated in
Fig. 26 is embroidered in green,
brown, and blue silk in what is

known as a knot-stitch. The fig. 21 carved wood with pottery ornament

92