Vintage Japanese Abacus Set with Wooden Storage Box, 1950s, Set of 3

Details

Description

Set of three Japanese abacuses (soroban) in a matching wooden storage box.

Dimensions wooden box: height 15 cm, width 13 … Read more Set of three Japanese abacuses (soroban) in a matching wooden storage box.

Dimensions wooden box: height 15 cm, width 13 cm, depth 33 cm.

Inside the elongated box, three soroban – traditional Japanese counting frames with wooden beads on metal rods – slide neatly above one another.

On the underside of the frames, old shop and company names are carved in red and black characters: 守屋 “Moriya”, 野澤商店 “Nozawa Shōten” (Nozawa trading company) and メリヤスの志村 “Shimura knitwear”. These inscriptions refer to the original owners and give the set a clear commercial history, most likely in a textile or clothing shop.

The design and materials point to the Shōwa period, around the 1950s. The abacuses are still functional, but above all they are a beautiful reminder of the time before the electronic calculator.

A charming curiosity that works perfectly as a decorative piece: on a desk or bookshelf, in a home office, shop interior or display cabinet.

The combination of warm wood, rhythmic rows of beads and Japanese lettering makes this a distinctive collector’s item with plenty of character and history. See less