Inkstone box (suzuribako)
Object Details
- Description
- Black lacquer over wood w/ gold and silver flakes (maki-e). Gold, silver inlay (takamaki-e). Metal water dropper (suiteki).
- Exterior of this box is decorated in a variety of Japanese techniques known as maki-e, which gold and silver particles and leaf embedded in lacquer. In an autumnal mountain landscape with a windblown maple tree and ivy vines stands a Buddhist priest’s backpack (oi) formed of solid silver. Among the contours of the tree and rocks, three calligraphic characters in silver (yume=dream; ni=in; hito=person) represent three elements of a poem in the tenth-century classic of Japanese court literature, Tales of Ise. In the famous episode known as Tsuta no hosomichi (The narrow ivy path), the poet-hero is traveling in eastern Japan, and encounters and ascetic monk on a dark mountain path overgrown with ivy and maples. The remote and lonely imagery of this scene is reflected in the hero’s poem:
- Beside Mount Utsu Suruga naru
- In Suruga Utsu no yamabe no
- I can see you Utsutsu ni mo
- Neither waking Yume ni mo hito ni
- Nor alas, even in my dreams. Awanu narikeri
- The interior of the box is decorated with a refined design of a garden fence and a pine tree entwined with blooming wisteria.
- Inscriptions
- Inscription on exterior of outer wooden box lid. Two paper labels on interior of same lid.
- Label
- Inkstone boxes (suzuribako) decorated with gold and silver designs were highly valued possessions of Japanese aristocrats and other elite patrons. Designed to hold an inkstone, water dropper, brushes and solid ink for writing poems or personal correspondence, such boxes could be used indoors in private quarters, for social gatherings such as poetry competitions, or outdoors on a veranda overlooking garden. The designs of suzuribako closely reflect the refined aesthetic tastes and literary interests of their owners, who commissioned the designs from accomplished lacquer artists.
- The design on the exterior of this box is executed in a variety of Japanese techniques known as maki-e, which gold and silver particles and leaf embedded in lacquer. In an autumnal mountain landscape with a windblown maple tree and ivy vines stands a Buddhist priest’s backpack (oi) formed of solid silver. Among the contours of the tree and rocks, three calligraphic characters in silver (yume=dream; ni=in; hito=person) represent three elements of a poem in the tenth-century classic of Japanese court literature, Tales of Ise. In the famous episode known as Tsuta no hosomichi (The narrow ivy path), the poet-hero is traveling in eastern Japan, and encounters and ascetic monk on a dark mountain path overgrown with ivy and maples. The remote and lonely imagery of this scene is reflected in the hero’s poem:
- Beside Mount Utsu
- In Suruga
- I can see you
- Neither waking
- Nor alas, even in my dreams.
- Suruga naru
- Utsu no yamabe no
- Utsutsu ni mo
- Yume ni mo hito ni
- Awanu narikeri
- Translation from: Tales of Ise: Lyrical Episodes from Tenth-Century Japan, translated by Helen Craig McCullough
- Provenance
- Unidentified Japanese collector [1]
- To 2005
- Koichi Yanagi Oriental Fine Arts, New York to 2005, acquired from an unidentified Japanese collector, to 2005 [2]
- From 2005
- Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Koichi Yanagi Oriental Fine Arts in 2005
- Notes:
- [1] According to Mr. Yanagi, the object came from a Japanese collection (see Curatorial Note 3, Ann Yonemura, January 2005, from Curatorial Justification for Acquisition).
- [2] See note 1.
- Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art Collection
- Exhibition History
- Painting the Classics: Presence and Absence (November 3, 2018 to October 14, 2019)
- Japanese Arts in the Edo Period: 1615-1868, part 2 (March 8 to October 19, 2008)
- Japanese Arts in the Edo Period: 1615-1868, part 1 (August 18, 2007 to February 24, 2008)
- Previous custodian or owner
- Koichi Yanagi Oriental Fine Arts
- Credit Line
- Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
- Data Source
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Date
- 17th century
- Period
- Edo period
- Accession Number
- F2005.2a-m
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Container
- Medium
- Lacquer on wood with gold and silver
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (overall): 5.5 x 22.9 x 24.8 cm (2 3/16 x 9 x 9 3/4 in)
- Origin
- Japan
- Related Online Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- See more items in
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
- Topic
- lacquer
- landscape
- Buddhism
- Edo period (1615 - 1868)
- writing
- Tales of Ise
- maple tree
- Japan
- Japanese Art
- maki-e
- Record ID
- fsg_F2005.2a-m
