Five-tiered box decorated with the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, 19th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Black lacquer and goldexpand_more
Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundationexpand_more 2015.79.423a-g
Not on Viewexpand_more
Stacked food boxes (jūbako) stored delicacies prepared for celebratory occasions, picnics, and outings. This example has been meticulously engraved with images of Japan's Thirty-six Immortal Poets (Sanjurokkasen) and then inlayed with gold. The technique, known as kinma, was introduced by the lacquer artist Tamakiji Zokoku (1805-1869), a lacquer artist in the service of Lord Matsudaira on the island of Shikoku. Tamakiji adopted the technique from lacquer containers imported from Thailand and Burma. In examples from Southeast Asia, the engraved lines were typically inlaid with red, yellow, or blue colored lacquer, but in this variation the Japanese artist has used gold.
Details
- Title
- Five-tiered box decorated with the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.79.423a-g
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 803
- 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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