• Additional view of object
  • Additional view of object
  • Additional view of object
Sep 21, 2020
Sep 21, 2020
Sep 21, 2020

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

夜紫陽花文硯箱

1930s

Part of a set. See all set records

Japan, Shōwa period

(1926-89)

Lacquered wood and silver with gold, silver, and color sprinkled powder (maki-e)

5.4 x 23.1 x 25.3 cm (2 1/8 x 9 1/8 x 9 15/16 in.)

Lillian M. Kern Memorial Fund 2020.67

Location

not on view

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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.

See also
Collection: 
Japanese Art
Department: 
Japanese Art
Type of artwork: 
Lacquer
Medium: 
Lacquered wood and silver with gold, silver, and color sprinkled powder (maki-e)
Credit line: 
Lillian M. Kern Memorial Fund

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