Bento Boxes Used As Jewelry Storage

Kotobuki 2-Tiered Blue Bento Box With Maneki Neko Lucky Cat

After a little research I found out early versions of the Bento Box date back to the 1300's in Japan. They are typically used for packing a lunch to go, either for work, a trip, or a child's school lunch. The wooden and lacquered ones originated around 1600. On Japanese rail lines Bentos were served on train trips during the late 1800, and in the 1920's the use of aluminum Bento Boxes became customary. In more recent times the popularity has spread throughout the world and they are now manufactured in a myriad of materials, from inexpensive plastic disposable versions, to hand crafted lacquered showpieces.

As much as I love Japanese food I couldn't stop visualizing them to store my jewelry. I could use one in my office in a space that I use has a temporary "waiting to be listed on my website" area. After I take photos of the vintage charms I sell on-line, I dump them beside my computer until I write up the descriptions. Then as I work my way through the pile there are always some that I have to put aside because the photo wasn't very good and needs to be retaken. And there are some that the quality of the charm isn't up to par and I set them aside to sell to the refinery as scrap metal. So I decided a Bento Box with its separate compartments would be perfect for sorting charms in my waiting area. And I can use another one to separate gold and silver damaged charms until I collect enough to take them to a scrap metal dealer. The pretty styles and colors of Bento Boxes certainly liven up my office space.

I also think when I travel to the annual vintage charm convention that I attend each year I can take a stacking Bento Box to tote the charm bracelets I intend to display at the meetings. I like to keep my collectible charms on the plane with me as I don't trust sending them through the checked luggage system. I think my fellow charming friends would be intrigued with the pretty variations of the Oriental style designs.

As I've grown to love the art and imagination associated with Bento Boxes, I've expanded my use of them for storage. I have a Bento sewing box, a makeup box, a couple of different boxes to hold small office supplies, both at home and where I work. I have a teeny box that holds business cards. And in the kitchen I have a pretty Bento Box that holds small items like corn handles and chip clips, and a matching deeper box to stash recipes that I use frequently.

Buy at AllPosters.com

Buy at AllPosters.com

Kotobuki 2-Tiered Pink Fashion Cat Bento Box

My favorite place to find unique Bento Boxes is in online marketplaces like Amazon. The variety is amazing. But I've also had some luck at thrift shops in my area. Occasionally I've stopped at a local Vietnamese market and had pretty good luck obtaining them at reasonable prices. I'd expect that they would be found at many Oriental supermarkets. Lately I've even seen them at Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel. Where ever you choose to source them I think you'll love using Bento Boxes to organize your home in a decorative way.