r/WhatsInThisThing • u/technicolorkitten • Sep 01 '26
Helpful Information Antique box in MIL’s home
The only parts that open are the two drawers at the bottom. The rest of the box is nailed shut. Pretty heavy for its size. The only info we know is what is written on the card. Just not sure exactly what it is.
She has travelled the world any collected so many beautiful things. She now has dementia and does not remember.
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u/UppityMule Sep 01 '26
This appears to be an antique Japanese naga-hibachi (a rectangular wooden brazier table), likely crafted from elm or keyaki wood around the late 19th to early 20th century. Designed to hold glowing embers, hibachi vessels such as this were at the center of social life in traditional Japanese homes. Another reddit post about it. https://www.reddit.com/r/JapaneseFood/s/HWk0v9Appd
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u/criggie_ Sep 01 '26
Fascinating - if its this then there must be a lid, cos there's no trace of heat on the outside.
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u/technicolorkitten Sep 01 '26
Thank you so much! No unfortunately no one in the family has any idea what it is either.
I will check the box as you suggest when I am there at the end of the week. Thank you so much!
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u/freshcream22 Sep 01 '26
Did you give it a shake?
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u/technicolorkitten Sep 01 '26
I don’t think it makes any noise but I will check when I go back Friday!
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u/Scary_Plumfairy Sep 01 '26
Also maybe head over to r/ translate to see what the text means; there might be a clue there? AI translate says this: "Is the second flying letter from the Republic of China era a tribute to Wang Linyuan?
noodle" which makes no sense to me at all
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u/technicolorkitten Sep 01 '26
We know what the translation is, but it does not give any hints as to what the object is
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u/criggie_ Sep 01 '26
Pull the drawers out, and look inside the hole. Might be lined, but could also give more info ? A cheap borescope might show more info, if there are any holes to poke it through. You can get them for under $20 on aliexpress, and use a cellphone for battery and display.
The joinery suggests a lot of effort went into making it - the dovetails and finger joints are fancy! I don't recognise the wood but it has lots of layers of finishing on, changing the colour.
Stand it on end so the Chinese gentleman is right-way up and check the back (the bottom) for anything?
The two side handles imply its a chest to be lifted, and the Chinese painting suggests it had an up/down aspect. I suspect it was a travelling wardrobe, basically a suitcase made from wood, but there are no addresses visible.
Is there anyone else in the family who might know ?
The one thing that looks "wrong" are the nails on the top, below the painting. That piece of wood is beside the painting, not under it. IF I'd exhausted all other options, I'd be tempted to lift that one piece off with something thin in the sides like putty blades, and see what results.
Possibly interested people include https://www.rexkrueger.com/ or https://www.woodbywright.com/ not sure if they're here on reddit.