A fabulous wooden tray carved in the shape of a basho leaf enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Koku-hi Himeji Jo Sashie-no-matsu. The wood is gnarled and dark, expertly carved of black pine. According to the enclosed document, after the battle of Sekigahara Ikeda Terumasa rebuilt Himeiji Castle in 1608. South of the castle he planted a stand of pine trees known as the Sashie-no-matsu. It appears that one or some of these trees were taken down in the early 20th century, and from this lumber Himeji city commissioned the wood workers at Inoue Meishodo to create this tray in commemoration of these 300 year old auspicious trees at a time when the telephone number for the wood workers studio was Himeji 544. The undulating form is 69.5 x 30.5 x 3 cm (28 x 12 x 1 inches) and is in overall fine condition, considering it is carved from raw pine.
