DRAG THE BACKGROUND TO TURN THE BOX · DRAG A PIECE TO MOVE IT

Auction house entry

A Hakone box, wood marquetry, late nineteenth century. It opens by sliding: each slat locks the next one. No force, no tools.

Turn it round to see the faces at the back; some pieces can only be reached from the other side.

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Pieces

Turn the box and try the slats.
Auction house · lot 63 · Japanese box
THE HAKONE BOX
00:000 of 6
Withdrawn from the sale: nobody could open it

THE HAKONE BOX

A marquetry box with no hinges, no lock and not one screw. It opens in six moves, and the order is written nowhere: it is in the wood. You can turn it over in your hand — you will need to, because half the slats are on the faces you cannot see right now.

The box gives way

SIX MOVES