Fine Vintage Japanese Watercolor/ Ink Pigment Sticks Set playing card box I've seen a fair number

I've seen a fair number of vintage "sewing birds" around--handy things

featuring a plaited cedar bark base and rim with cedar bark strip

and many years of use left in it

tapering forms giving them an architectural feel

The apricot is less unusual but very nicely done as well

Fine Vintage Japanese Watercolor/ Ink Pigment Sticks Set playing card box I've seen a fair numberYum! These make me happy just to look at, so pretty. When I found them, I thought they were pastels or wax crayons, but they are in fact pure pigment watercolor sticks, which one can directly apply a wet brush to, or break into pieces to use in a pan. In Japan these are used for watercolor painting, sumi e painting, etc. Very long lasting (from what I understand, each stick is equivalent to 3 4 watercolor pans), and from what I've found online, sets