15/10/2026
✨ Sometimes a restoration tests your patience to the absolute limit! ✨
When this vintage Japanese black lacquer music box first landed on the workbench, it was in a bit of a state.
The musical movement was faulty and temperamental, one of the corner legs had completely broken off, and a nasty split ran right across the entire base.
To say this was a joy to restore... would be an absolute lie! 😅
After fixing the mechanical movement, repairing the broken foot, and securing the split base, it was time to touch up the missing paintwork and give it a thorough clean.
But that is precisely where the real nightmare began.
The more I examined the box, the more the original lacquer and delicate artwork began flaking off. In an effort to stabilise the surface, I applied a clear resin coating—which promptly reacted with the original finish, leaving a dreadful, bumpy, lined mess instead of a smooth gloss!
It took painstaking hand-sanding to remove the reacted layer without destroying the original detail underneath.
Once clear, I carefully re-painted the missing areas using colour-matched acrylics blended with acrylic varnish, followed by a water-based glaze topcoat.
After hours of wet sanding all the way up to 5,000 grit, I finally achieved that deep, glossy, mirror-like finish. Phew! Got there in the end! 🛠️
A massive shout-out to Mr & Mrs Owen for their unbelievable patience and for trusting me with this challenging piece!
💬 What do you think of the final result? Have you ever had a restoration or DIY project nearly go off the rails? Let us know in the comments below!
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📖 Backstory & History of the Piece:
This item is a classic vintage Japanese styed black lacquer musical jewellery box, produced between the 1950s and 1970s during the post-WWII export boom.
Artisans crafted these pieces for international markets, combining traditional urushi style lacquering techniques with hand-painted maki-e artwork featuring iconic scenes of Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms (sakura), and coastal landscapes.
The lid perimeter features an iridescent inlaid mother-of-pearl (raden) border, housing an internal spring-driven mechanical music movement that plays when the lid is lifted.
