Vintage Japanese Inlaid Wood Puzzle Boxâe"Alarmed Drawer

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Vintage Japanese Inlaid Wood Puzzle Boxâe"Alarmed Drawer

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Sold Date: 06/06/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

Vintage Japanese Inlaid Wood Puzzle Boxâe"Alarmed Drawer

Design on top & bottom, 5 sun, 7 move, inlaid drawer cover

Japanese mystery puzzle box measures approx 6âe long x 4âe wide x 3âe high. It is a zougan type with a Mount Fuji landscape scene on the top and 2 Scotty dogs on the bottom. Sides have checkerboard design. The box appears to be made using the Yosegi-Zaiku Marquetry technique. It has a secret drawer which is covered by a top inlaid with a bird. And the bottom of this drawer has a piano wire alarm system that makes a pinging noise (sounds a little like a chime) when the drawer is being opened. It takes 7 moves to completely open the box. Go to /Puzzle-Box-History_ep_85-1.html for information on the history of these boxes, and scroll down the page to see a demonstration of opening a box with a drawer.

I was given this box by an Air Force guy about 30 years ago, and I believe he obtained it when he was stationed in Japan some years before that. The box looked old when I received it, and resembles those dating back to the 1940âe(tm)s and 1950âe(tm)s. I do not see any labeling on the box. It does have some light scratches and rubbings to the lacquer, and the top panel has small indents in the middle of its bottom edge that look like someone once tried to use a tool to pop up the lid (can be seen in photo). In opening the box you find that the removable side panel is not snug in operation. If you lift this panel it will not stay in place if raised half-way up. When closed, the pieces fit together well, and the box appears to be in nice condition for a vintage, used box. I will provide instructions on how to open the box. Please e-mail me with any questions you have about its condition or operation.

A Fine Addition to a Collection! Makes a nice Fatherâe(tm)s Day gift.

Domestic buyer pays $4.80 USPS priority mail shipping. Iâe(tm)m happy to provide shipping quotes to international destinations. I accept Paypal, money order, cashiers check, or personal check, and mail promptly.

Thanks for your interest.