second half 12th century
H. 1.8 x Diam. 8.8 cm (11/16 x 3 7/16 in.)
Gregory (1922-1988) and Maria C. Henderson (1923-2007), Medford, MA (by 1969-1988), inherited; by Maria C. Henderson, Medford, MA (1988-1991), partial gift and partial purchase; to Harvard University Art Museums, 1991.
Silver with parcel gilding; with inscription incised on base and cover
5th-3rd century BCEChineseApproximately 20 sheets of brass, steel, and nickel silver joined with gray lead-tin solder
19th-20th centuryLacquer on wood with decoration in gold utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design) and nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques; openwork bronze cover and copper interior fittings
17th-18th centuryJapaneseBronze, with damascened overlays of cut sheet silver, the bronze with induced gunmetal gray surface color
19th-20th centuryKoreanLacquer on wood with decoration in gold and seisei urushi (cooked lacquer) utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), and nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques; gold and shakudo (copper-gold alloy) fittings
18th centuryJapaneseWood
19th centuryAmericanLacquer on wood
JapaneseLacquer
JapaneseRed lacquer
ChineseRosewood with metal (brass and copper?) fittings, the interior of the box lined with silk damask
18th centuryKoreanLacquer on wood with decoration in gold
JapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold and silver utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground), and harigaki (linear incising) techniques, and with applied kirigane (cut gold and silver) and shibuchi (copper-silver alloy); metal fittings
17th-18th centuryJapanese