A LACQUERED AND INLAID SUZURIBAKO (BOX FOR WRITING UTENSILS) AND COVER


Edo period (1615-1868), early 19th centuryOf standard rectangular form with kabusebuta (overhanging lid), entirely covered in black lacquer, the exterior of the lid decorated in thick applied pewter and gold and coloured hiramaki-e with a boatman wearing a medieval court cap and poling a boat through stylized waves, the interiors with stylized pines in gold hiramaki-e, the box fitted out in typical Rinpa style with the suzuri (ink-grinding stone) and suiteki (water-dropper) set into a panel to the left and a slot for the brush on the right; with a lacquered-wooden storage box. 5.2cm x 24cm x 26.4cm (2in x 9½in x 10 3/8in). (5).
|This motif, a version of which can be found in Korin hyakuzu (1815), a woodblock-printed compilation by Sakai Hoitsu of designs by Ogata Korin, refers to the Noh play Hakurakuten which narrates the Chinese poet Bo Juyi's fictional visit to Japan; for a digital version see http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/850491.