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Preview image of work. wood, gold & silver maki-e and inlay on lacquer ground,  Suzuri-bako (writing case) 1828
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1925.12

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Suzuri-bako (writing case)

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Artist

Ogata Korin

Title

Suzuri-bako (writing case)

Creation Date

1615-1868

Century

17th-19th century

Object Type

box

Creation Place

Asia, Japan

Medium and Support

wood, gold & silver maki-e and inlay on lacquer ground

Credit Line

Gift of Helen W. Merrill (Mrs. Earle A., Class of 1889)

Copyright

Public Domain

Accession Number

1925.12

This Japanese writing case comprises a brush compartment, a stone for grinding and mixing ink, and a small pot for water. During the Edo Period (1603–1867), most literate persons in Japan owned a writing case, though the quality of the craftsmanship would vary according to the socioeconomic standing of the owner. Ogata Korin, one of the most prominent artists of his day, designed the box. The fabrication would have been left to lacquer craftsmen who were highly skilled in the time-consuming application of numerous coats of thinly applied tree sap. The “sprinkled design,” or maki-e, seen in between the folds of the stream, is made by embedding flakes of gold and silver leaf into a still-wet layer of lacquer.

Object Description

See attached pdf article (under surrogate list) "From the Suntory Museum of Art-Autumn Grasses and Water-Motifs in Japanese Art". A good reference for writing box

Additional Media

Additional Image overall
overall
Additional Image detail, inside
detail, inside
Additional Image detail
detail
Additional Image detail
detail
Additional Image detail
detail
Additional Image exterior, top
exterior, top
Additional Image exterior, top, detail
exterior, top, detail