Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Japanese cast iron box depicting woodblock print titled “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”

In Asian > Japanese Metalwork > Show & Tell.
Ben's loves72 of 2279Majestic tombstone model 6M531Blenko Glass lion
16
Love it
0
Like it

mrcolorzmrcolorz loves this.
Justlooken12Justlooken12 loves this.
PhilDMorrisPhilDMorris loves this.
CisumCisum loves this.
BenBen loves this.
Alfie21Alfie21 loves this.
WhenIsraelbelievesWhenIsraelbelieves loves this.
NewfldNewfld loves this.
ReiseReise loves this.
Daisy1000Daisy1000 loves this.
vcalvcal loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
WatchsearcherWatchsearcher loves this.
Drake47Drake47 loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
See 14 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 2 years ago

    kwqd
    (1185 items)

    This cast iron box is about 4" square and 2" high. Due to the the thickness of the cast iron, it is only about 1.75" deep. It is unmarked but has a Kotobuki label on it. Guessing it was made by Iwachu, Oigen or Oitomi, but that is just a guess. Those foundries generally mark their work in the mold, but not always. Oigen, in particular, sometimes does not mark their work. This box dates from the 1970s to 2021 when Kotobuki went out of business. In a hundred years it will be a collectible!

    I have wanted a Japanese iron box for some time and got tired of waiting for a vintage piece at a good price. This box was pretty affordable, the mold work is good and it is an interesting piece. The images is from a woodblock print titled “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”, probably made in 1831 by Japanese artist Hokusai. Said to be the most copied image in history:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa

    Thanks to Watchsearcher for identifying this image. I did not recognize it even though I have a color print of it hanging in my house! (Blush)

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    logo
    Japanese Metalwork
    See all
    Vintage Japanese Ornament Figurine Statue Okimono dragonfly Bronze interior
    Vintage Japanese Ornament Figurine ...
    $105
    antique 19th century Japanese Meiji bronze bird crane figural statue sculpture
    antique 19th century Japanese Meiji...
    $339
    Antique Japanese Ando Jubei Hammered Copper Enamel Jar Vase Cloisonne
    Antique Japanese Ando Jubei Hammere...
    $98
    Japanese Antique Copper Tsuba, Authentic Samurai Katana Sword Guard Gold Flora
    Japanese Antique Copper Tsuba, Auth...
    $70
    logo
    Vintage Japanese Ornament Figurine Statue Okimono dragonfly Bronze interior
    Vintage Japanese Ornament Figurine ...
    $105
    See all

    Comments

    1. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      Thanks Kevin!
    2. Watchsearcher Watchsearcher, 2 years ago
      The scene is of a tidal wave. The original piece was a woodblock print titled “The Great Wave of Kanagawa”, probably made in 1831 by Japanese artist Hokusai.
    3. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      D'oh! Thanks Watchsearcher! I have a print of this woodblock hanging in my kitchen and still did not recognize it! It is one of the few mass produced prints I own.... Getting old...

    4. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      Thanks for loving my Japanese iron box Watchsearcher and Drake47!
    5. Watchsearcher Watchsearcher, 2 years ago
      I’m a member of that same “getting old” group!
    6. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      Thanks blunderbuss2!
    7. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      Thanks fortapache!
    8. Newfld Newfld, 2 years ago
      Beautiful box, the wave design is fantastic!
    9. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      Thanks for your comments, Jenni! It definitely fills a hole in my collection!

      Thanks for checking out my iron box Alfie21, WhenIsraelbelieves, Jenni, Reise, Daisy1000 and vcal!

    10. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      Thanks, Ben!
    11. Justlooken12, 2 years ago
      very neat.............love the waves..
    12. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      Thanks for your comment, Justlooken12. Thanks for loving my iron box Justlooken12 and PhilDMorris!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.