Artwork Page for Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia

Details / Information for Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia

桐に鳳凰金銀蒔絵硯箱

late 1500s

Japan, Momoyama period

(1573–1615)
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Medium
Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold and silver powder (maki-e) and gold and silver foil application
Measurements
4 x 20.5 x 23.5 cm (1 9/16 x 8 1/16 x 9 1/4 in.)
Weight: 680 g (1.5 lbs.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 2016.34
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

In contrast to the bright, celebratory motifs on the exterior, the interior of the box invites a more reflective mood with its autumn moonlit sky over chrysanthemums.

Description

The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is in the paulownia tree. Along with the dragon, the bird is a symbol of imperial power in East Asia. This box––a container for an inkstone, brushes, and ink––is both functional and lavish, its dramatic effects achieved with a pear-skin ground decoration (nashiji) and sprinkled powder decoration in high relief (takamaki-e).
A flat wooden box with intricate gold and silver designs across the surface. At the front, there is a depiction of a gold phoenix perched on a tree with a gold dragon flying by from our top right corner.

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia

late 1500s

Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615)

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