Artwork Page for Poem Card Box with Lid

Details / Information for Poem Card Box with Lid

Poem Card Box with Lid

1868–1912

Kamisaka Sekka 神坂 雪佳

(Japanese, 1866–1942)
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Culture
Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Medium
wood with lacquer
Measurements
Overall: 37.5 x 7.1 cm (14 3/4 x 2 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Seventy-fifth anniversary gift of Leighton R. Longhi 1991.120
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

Poems written on long poetry cards, or tanzaku, are often collected into albums called tekagami in Japanese.

Description

Long, decorated cards for the calligraphic presentation of poems are called tanzaku in Japanese. This box is a collaboration between the designer Kamisaka Sekka and the lacquer artist Iwamura Sadazō. Together, they crafted this box with a golden bamboo lid, and filled it with cards decorated with gold leaf designs.
A long, horizontal rectangular wood box features a polished, deep reddish-brown lacquer finish. A brown fabric cord wraps around the center, tied in a bow. On the lid's left side, thin gold lines and pointed leaf shapes suggest bamboo. To the far left, small gold Japanese calligraphy characters are rendered near the edge. The smooth, glossy surface reflects light, highlighting a subtle horizontal wood grain.

Poem Card Box with Lid

1868–1912

Kamisaka Sekka

(Japanese, 1866–1942)
Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)

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