EARLY Japanese Carpenter's DARK Wooden 'Sumitsubo' INK POT Line - 'Chalk Line

Description

From my Sumitsubo collection:
Here we have an
Antique Japanese Asian Carpenter's DARK Wooden 'Sumitsubo' INK POT Line - 'Chalk Line'.
Sumitsubo translates to “ink pot”
.
The inkpot has been a common tool in many Asian countries since ancient times.
Traditionally, the carpenter would make the sumitsubo himself, taking pleasure in carving his favorite designs onto the inkpot.  Strong, easy to handle zelkova, keyaki wood is generally used to make the sumitsubo, but high-quality examples use mulberry.  A
thin line travels through holes at each end of a “pond” filled with absorbent silk or cotton waste soaked with ink, and then spools around a wheel or reel. As the line is let out it soaks up ink from the
‘
pond
’
.
Once it is stretched, the line is then ‘snapped’ to mark the surface for cutting, etc.  This example was carved with a square-shaped ink pot section which flows to a narrow scroll carved section.  The thick wheel turns as it should powered by a very early forged iron hand crank handle.  The sumitsubo still has the ink cotton and is loaded the tread-like line.  The line exits though a ceramic guide button.  There is no makers mark which is typical.  It is approx. 6-3/4" L x 2" W (not counting the crank handle).  There are no cracks, breaks or repairs..
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