Artwork Page for Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

Details / Information for Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

夜紫陽花文硯箱

1930s

Japan, Shōwa period

(1926–89)
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Medium
Lacquered wood and silver with gold, silver, and color sprinkled powder (maki-e)
Measurements
5.4 x 23.1 x 25.3 cm (2 1/8 x 9 1/8 x 9 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Lillian M. Kern Memorial Fund 2020.67
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The moody, glamorous look of the box is an excellent example of reconsidering classical seasonal motifs.

Description

Japanese writing boxes are designed to hold all the tools for traditional calligraphy, including an inkstone, water dropper, ink cake, and brushes. This box retains its inkstone and water dropper, the latter of which has a design of the sun behind clouds—a contrast to the hydrangea flower in moonlight motif on the box’s lid.
A square, black lacquered writing box with rounded corners features a dense cluster of hydrangea blossoms filling the lid. Against the polished black surface, four-petaled flowers in gold, silver, and tan are accented with tiny metallic dots. Muted orange and brown leaves with visible veins emerge from behind the blossoms and spill over the edges. A thin silver rim defines the seam between the deep lid and the base.

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

1930s

Japan, Shōwa period (1926–89)

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