Japanese Akamatsu Wood Hibachi with Copper Insert - AS IS. Three drawers on the front for storing implements, and a covered compartment on top for fresh cold coals to be kept in to replenish the hot coals that would sit inside the copper box. Missing the glass top that would have covered the copper box when not in use to make it into a coffee table. 

Size: 15 1/2 x 34 1/4 x 21 1/4 in. 

The Japanese hibachi first appeared during the Heian period (794-1185 AD) as a way to survive Japan’s increasingly harsh winters, and were initially simple unadorned round or rectangular containers made from clay or metal that held burning charcoal. Towards the end of the Kamakura period (1185-1333) they became more portable, and began to be used for light cooking and boiling water for tea. They reached the height of their popularity during the Edo period (1603-1868) as craftsmen began to use the highly heat-resistant Akamatsu wood to make them in a variety of styles, and to adorn them with lacquer finishes, intricate carvings, or inlays of metal, making them as much a work of art as a functional item. In traditional Japanese households the hibachi was often placed at the center of the living area, serving as a communal gathering spot. The device thus became a symbol of home, comfort, and togetherness, embodying the Japanese concept of “omotenashi,” the spirit of selfless hospitality. With the introduction of Western heating methods and modern appliances in the 20th Century the practical use of hibachis began to decline, and today collectors and enthusiasts value antique hibachis for their aesthetic and historical significance.

All items are sold AS IS. Lot and condition details are for descriptive purposes only. Sarasota Estate Auction is not responsible for errors and/or omissions of condition. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is perfect or free from wear, flaws, or characteristics of age. Please bid according to your own expertise, or request any additional information and/or photographs you deem necessary.