In case you hadn’t noticed, I have officially passed the line from buying a few antique art supplies to building a collection.  (You can find more posts on art supplies HERE.)  The collector in me always gets excited about the next thing to collect when I feel satisfied with a collection.  Ironstone, for example, is something I have collected for years, but I have so many pieces and so many wonderful pieces that it feels pretty complete.  I won’t turn down an amazing piece if I find it, but I’m not actively looking to grow my collection.  But, collecting antique art supplies is still fairly new and I’m always finding new pieces to add, including this antique Japanned watercolor box I bought from my friend Julia.

A watercolor box that is “Japanned” is painted in a glossy black paint that was meant to mimic Japanese lacquer work.  These boxes can be in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and configurations, and they can be made for watercolor or oils.  Don’t quote me on this, but I believe they were made as a less-expensive alternative to wood boxes and they are still made today.

This particular antique Japanned watercolor box doesn’t boast a fancy pedigree or name brand, but there was something about it that spoke to me.  I liked the size and configuration.  I liked the ceramic watercolor pans filled with unnamed colors.  I liked the ceramic palette and slightly rusted brush washing tin. It was clear this antique box had been used, cared for, and enjoyed.  A part of the appeal of buying antiques to me and particularly antique tools is the unknown story that comes with them.  It’s even better if the story is known, but in most cases, I just have to use my imagination and skills of observation.

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What brushes were dipped in these colors to make the telltale divots signaling the ones that were preferred?  Were these colors original to the box or added?  Who was the artist?  A child, an adult, an amateur, a professional?  Was it a gift?  It definitely brings out the same imagination I used to animate my dolls when I was a girl.  I would assign to each of them voices, accents, personalities, and purpose.

Under the label, I found a color chart made by a previous owner. The straight, measured lines and neat writing all in capital letters give me some feeling of who might’ve made it.  Someone who was neat, tidy, precise and liked the simple task of getting to know their colors through labeling them.

I cleaned up the antique japanned watercolor box, the palette, and made a color chart of the colors that were already in the box and a few I added to fill up empty wells.  The result is quite a lovely palette that I’ve enjoyed using.

I’ve gone past the point of saying things like, “I don’t need another watercolor palette or box.  I already have plenty.”  Each one has its own personality and color palette and I pull each one out depending on my mood.  I can’t always tell you why I pick one over the other, but it’s all a part of the creative process.

I’ve included a few antique and vintage watercolor boxes and palettes, but I didn’t find too many.  I do suggest looking at and eBay to see what pops up in the future.  I also know that Julia of Ponder & Purchase has some wonderful watercolor boxes and other art supplies going for sale on her Instagram this weekend.

As a reminder, my original art sale is tomorrow, March 18, at 10:00 am Chicago time. The paintings will appear in my online shop HERE when the sale goes live.