Writing-box

From Japan
Edo period, 18th century AD

Black lacquer with gold and silver makie, including takamakie

Until the end of the Edo period (AD 1868), every literate Japanese had a personal writing-box containing brushes, ink-stone, ink-stick and water-dropper. The quality of the craftsmanship reflected the status of the owner.

This piece is decorated in the taste of the daimyō families. The lid has a landscape in the Chinese manner, although the location, as yet unidentified , is probably on the Japanese coast. The high relief is obtained by the takamakie technique, where thin layers of lacquer are built up over primers. The landscape motifs are repeated inside the box and on the brushes and other implements.

L. Smith, V. Harris and T. Clark, Japanese art: masterpieces in (London, The British Museum Press, 1990)