A wonderfully eccentric mid-century keepsake box, made in the form of a rather grand little house and decorated in bamboo and coloured straw marquetry.
The architecture is taken surprisingly seriously. Rows of individually worked windows sit above a tiny front door, complete with steps and its own projecting canopy, while a decorative frieze runs across the façade. The hipped roof is particularly good, tiled one tiny piece at a time in alternating tones of natural and coloured straw.
Lift the entire roof away and the house reveals its rather more practical purpose: a simple fabric-lined compartment for jewellery, keepsakes or whatever else requires its own miniature residence.
Dating from around the 1950s–60s, the box belongs to a decorative tradition of straw and bamboo work in which the natural material is split, flattened and arranged almost like marquetry. The extraordinary level of detail gives it something of the character of an architectural model, albeit one with the rather more useful purpose of hiding things inside.
There is something particularly pleasing about the amount of labour expended on such an unnecessary object. The tiny roof tiles alone suggest somebody was considerably more patient than most of us.
Condition
Good vintage condition with age and wear throughout. There are areas of wear, lifting and losses to the paper-covered base and edges, together with some minor wear to the straw work and architectural detailing. The fabric-lined interior remains present. The slightly knocked-about condition feels entirely appropriate to the piece and doesn't detract from its considerable charm. Please refer to the photographs for detail.
Dimensions
Height: 11.5 cm
Width: 13 cm
Depth: 7.5 cm
Delivery
Qualifies as a smaller item. UK delivery via insured courier/FedEx at checkout; international shipping available—ask for a quote.
