This is a set of six boxes and six trays that nest snugly inside each other. The trays can be used as lids for the boxes, which are useful for storing items of varying sizes.
The Ireko-bako is based on the kiridame, a traditional Japanese storage container. Originally, the kiridame was a wooden box, coated with a thin layer of lacquer, used to hold chopped vegetables, grain, or other kitchen foodstuffs on a temporary basis. It could also be used as a serving dish when many people gathered to dine. In contrast to the elegant ju-bako (a lacquered stacking box decorated with gold or silver maki-e designs), the kiridame was an unassuming, functional utensil that was integral to daily life. The boxes varied in size and depth and were stacked so that they fit inside each other. The Ireko-bako is a practical household item that, like the kiridame, combines functional versatility with a beautiful traditional look and feel.
