The Himitsu-Bako Puzzle Box

This is the handcrafted Himitsu-Bako, a traditional Japanese puzzle box that requires 12 secret moves to open. The wooden box is imported from Japan and follows a 200-year-old custom developed in the forested Hakone region, where artisans honed the craft of Yosegi-Zaiku parquetry, creating intricate mosaics with different pieces of colored wood. Smooth and lacquered on the outside, the box's geometric patterns conceal its hinges and seams, challenging a user's dexterity and acuity to unlock the box's interior. The clever construction was historically used to secure valuables, and the four-sun box - a traditional measurement indicating a length of almost 5" - can hold a watch, rings, or other prized possessions. 4 3/4" L x 3" W x 2" D. (5 oz.)