The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 13, 2025

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (inkstone and water dropper)

c. 1573–99

Japan, Momoyama period

(1573–1615)
Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold and silver powder (maki-e) and gold and silver foil application
4 x 20.5 x 23.5 cm (1 9/16 x 8 1/16 x 9 1/4 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 2016.34.c
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is the paulownia tree.

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).
  • 2016-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 2016-present
  • "New in the Galleries.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine 57, no. 1 (January/February 2017): Back cover. Reproduced and Mentioned: Back cover archive.org
    Vilbar, Sinéad. “Acquisition Highlights 2016: Japanese Art.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine vol. 57, no. 2 (March/April 2017): 18–19. Reproduced: pp. 5, 19; Mentioned: p. 19
  • {{cite web|title=Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (inkstone and water dropper)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1573–99|access-date=13 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2016.34.c