Comb Box with Pine and Camellia in Makie and Combs in Makie (Sacred Treasures from Asuka Shrine)

This comb box, part of the contents of the Toiletry Box (J., tebako) in Makie with Pines and Camellias, is one of the Ancient Sacred Treasures (J., kojinbô) preserved at Asuka Shrine, a subsidiary shrine of the Kumano Sokutama Shrine. The square lid with rounded corners fits over the body of the box and has ridges all around and handholds carved into each of its long sides. The box contains 29 unpatterned makie combs, all of which are finished in speckled pear-skin ground (J., nashiji); the outside and inside of the lid are decorated in makie with pines and camellias. An old record states that it was dedicated in 1390 (Meitoku 1).

— Museum description: Kyoto National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.