Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties
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Important Cultural Property

Cosmetic Box with Cypress-Fan Crests

檜扇紋散蒔絵手箱
Cosmetic Box with Cypress-Fan Crests (檜扇紋散蒔絵手箱)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Lacquerware · Kamakura period, 13th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category
Lacquerware
Date
1201–1300
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-84424

Find more

For centuries, wealthy women stored cosmetics and other personal items in lacquered boxes called [tebako], meaning “box on hand.” Gold dust attached to the surface with lacquer gives this [tebako] a metallic appearance. The design, consisting of family emblems arranged in groups of two or three, was popular when this box was made in the 1200s.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Cosmetic Box with Cypress-Fan Crests（檜扇紋散蒔絵手箱）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-84424. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/cosmetic-box-with-cypress-fan-crests/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Lacquerware
  • Material: Lacquered wood with [maki-e]
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Category: Applied arts:Furnishings and ceremonial objects:Cosmetic boxes
  • 員数: 1合
  • 分類: 漆工
  • 品質形状: 木製漆塗
  • 種別: 工芸:調度・儀礼用品:手箱

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