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🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (1)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (2)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (3)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (4)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (5)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (6)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (7)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (8)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (9)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (10)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (11)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (12)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (1)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (2)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (3)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (4)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (5)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (6)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (7)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (8)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (9)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (10)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (11)
🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow product image (12)

🎎 Antique Japanese Merchant’s Scale Case (Hardwood Sliding Lid) – Meiji Period – Japan Antique Roadshow

$55.00

🎎 This finely crafted hardwood case, likely from the Meiji period (1868–1912), once held a merchant’s portable balance scale (tenbin hakari), an essential tool during a time when trust in trade was measured by one’s ability to weigh goods with accuracy and discretion. These scale cases were often carried tucked into the wide sleeve of a kimono, pulled out as needed to verify weights on the spot in open-air markets and roadside exchanges.

This particular piece shows signs of daily handling, with a deeply worn patina and a smooth, sliding lid. Inside are two carved compartments—one rounded and one rectangular—where the scale’s beam and metal weights would have been stored. The end of the handle is capped with a small metal fastener, likely to secure the lid shut or hang the case when not in use. Crafted from durable native hardwood, possibly Japanese zelkova or chestnut, this tool exemplifies the quiet sophistication of practical Edo and Meiji-era craftsmanship.

📏 Approximate dimensions
• Length: 25.75 cm
• Width: 7.25 cm
• Depth: 6.75 cm
• Weight: ~50 grams
• Material: Solid aged hardwood
• Era: Likely Meiji Period (late 19th to early 20th century)
• Condition: Good antique condition with rich patina, worn surfaces, and possible evidence of early repair
• Features: Sliding lid, dual internal compartments, small screw-capped end

Designed for use in everyday commerce, this pocket-sized tool represents a portable integrity—a time when weighing rice, tea, or precious metals was a gesture of trust as much as accuracy. The enduring design, weathered by use but still strong in form, stands as a small monument to Japan’s merchant past.

Curated in Shizuoka City by Kurt Bell, this piece offers a quiet, tangible connection to Japan’s working traditions—simple, honest, and beautifully made for a life on the move.

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Quality Guarantee & Returns

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  • Quality is guaranteed. If there is a print error or visible quality issue, we'll replace or refund it.
  • Because the products are made to order, we do not accept general returns or sizing-related returns.

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