Artwork Page for Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Europeans

Details / Information for Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Europeans

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Europeans

蒔絵南蛮人図硯箱

1800s

Japan, Edo period

(1615–1868)
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Medium
lacquered wood with gold maki-e, silver inlay and red lacquer on black ground
Measurements
23 x 20.2 cm (9 1/16 x 7 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 1969.59
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

The Japanese term nanban 南蛮 is used to describe designs like the one on this box.

Description

The two people on the left of this box lid's design are Portuguese traders, identifiable by their balloon-shaped pants. Facing them is a Jesuit priest in a long robe. Portuguese ships arrived in Japan in the 1540s. Imagery first made to document the appearance of the foreigners survived as decoration on later objects like this one.
A low, rectangular lacquered wood box with rounded corners features three figures in European dress across its smooth black lid. On our left, a figure in baggy trousers and a red cape faces right. In the center, another figure in similar dress holds a thin staff. On our right, a figure wearing a long robe and patterned cape faces left. Gold and red lacquer details the figures against the dark surface.

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Europeans

1800s

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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