second half 13th century
H. 3.1 x Diam. 7.8 cm (1 1/4 x 3 1/16 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.
Lacquer 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 centuryJapaneseSilver
19th centuryBritishLacquer on wood with decoration in gold, silver, and sabi urushi (thick lacquer paste) utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), and nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques, and with applied kirigane (cut gold and silver) and silver inlays; stone, metal, and enamel fittings
17th centuryJapaneseWhite stoneware with ivory hued glaze
8th-9th centuryChineseQingbai ware: molded porcelain with pale sky-blue glaze; with molded inscription reading "Wu Jia He ___" on the base
12th-13th centuryChineseHuangpu ware: light gray stoneware with dark brown glaze. From the Huangpu kilns, Tongchuan, Yaozhou county, Shaanxi province
9th centuryChineseLacquer on wood with decoration in sumiaka (exposed cloth ground) and gold utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design) and nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques and with gold and silver inlays; metal fittings
18th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold utilizing the "hiramaki-e" (low-relief sprinkled design) and "kanagai" (sheet-gold appliqué) techniques
18th-19th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold, silver, and sabi urushi (thick lacquer paste) utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), and nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques, with applied kirigane (cut gold and silver) and with shibuchi (copper-silver alloy), brass, silver, and coral inlays; stone, metal, and enamel fittings
18th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold and silver utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground), and e-nashiji (pictorial "pear-skinned" ground) techniques; copper fittings
18th centuryJapanesePale greenish white nephrite
18th-19th centuryChineseLacquer 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 kanagai (sheet gold and silver appliqué) techniques, with applied kirigane (cut gold and silver) and with sheet-lead inlays; stone, metal, and enamel fittings
17th centuryJudaean