Incense box with peacock design, 16th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Black lacquer with gold and mother-of-pearl inlay (maki-e)expand_more
Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundationexpand_more 2015.79.380a,b
Not on Viewexpand_more
The background of this box is known as “pear-skin ground” (nashiji), because the loose sprinkling of gold dust over the surface resembles the skin of an Asian pear (nashi). The body of the peacock was also created by applying gold dust to the lacquered surface of the box, a technique called maki-e (sprinkled pictures), while the bird’s tail feathers are adorned with tiny pieces of iridescent mother-of-pearl embedded into the surface. The delicacy of this box’s design is characteristic of lacquerware created in Japan in the 1500s.
Details
- Title
- Incense box with peacock design
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.79.380a,b
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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