No image available

BoxesJapanese21st century

Early Spring, Hexagonal Tea Caddy with Decoration of Flowering Plants, Grasses and Pine Needles

datable to 2008

Artists

Yamazaki Mushū (Yamazaki Atsushi)Artist

Description

Of hexagonal form, this dry lacquer tea caddy is made entirely of lacquer applied over a cloth core, the surface imitating the color and texture of an old bronze vessel. The top and sides have minutely executed décor in takamakie high relief gold and brown lacquer representing two flowers and twelve pine needles. The inside and the bottom are decorated with nashiji gold flakes; the bottom bears the artist's signature reading Mushū and written in black lacquer. The tea caddy comes with its original kiri-wood tomobako box which is inscribed on the side: Kanshitsu chaki "Sōshun", or "Dry Lacquer Tea Caddy 'Early Spring'"; the box bears the artist's signature reading Mushū; a square, black intaglio seal reading Mu Shū immediately follows the signature.

Classification

Boxes

Medium

Dry lacquer; dark brown lacquer over fabric core, the decoration on the exterior in "takamakie" high relief gold and brown lacquer, the decoration on the interior and base in "nashiji" gold flakes; the base with signature reading "Mushū" in black lacquer

Culture

Japanese

Period

Heisei era, 1989-2019

Century

21st century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

tea caddy and cover: H. 6.2 x Diam. 8.4 cm (2 7/16 x 3 5/16 in.)

Provenance

Yamazaki Mushū (artist), Kyoto, Japan; through Erik Thomsen LLC Asian Art, New York; to Harvard Art Museum

Related Artworks

Boxes

Footed Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Summer Waterscape Design

Unknown Artist, Mid Edo period, 18th century

Lacquer on wood with decoration in gold and silver utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), togidashi maki-e (sprinkled design revealed by polishing), and nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques

18th centuryJapanese

Boxes

Three Boxes from an Incense-Game Set (Kōdōgubako) with Bamboo, Pine and Double Family-Crest Design

Unknown Artist, Early Edo period, late 17th century

Lacquer on wood with decoration in gold utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground), and e-nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques; metal interior fittings

17th centuryJapanese

Boxes

Inkstone Box (Suzuribako) with Pine and Plum Tree Design

Unknown Artist, Late Muromachi or Momoyama period, late 16th-17th century

Lacquer 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 originally with inlays [now lost]; stone and metal fittings

16th-17th centuryJapanese

Boxes

Wafer Seal Case with Flowers, Hazelnuts, and Butterfly

Muhammad Husayn Shirazi, c. 1875-1890

Opaque watercolor, gold-colored pigments, and lacquer on pasteboard

19th century

Boxes

Inkstone Box (Suzuribako) with Boat, Egret, and Reed Design

Mochizuki Hanzan, 18th century

Lacquer on wood with decoration in gold, silver, lacquer paste, lead, ceramic and shell inlays; stone and metal fittings

18th centuryJapanese

Boxes

Mirror Box (Kagamibako) with Flowering Cherry Tree Design

Unknown Artist, Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century

Lacquer on wood with decoration in gold and silver utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), e-nashiji (pictorial "pear-skinned" ground), and harigaki (linear incising) techniques

16th-17th centuryJapanese

Boxes

Circular Covered Incense Box, the Domed Cover with Flattened Top

Unknown Artist, perhaps Tang dynasty, 8th-9th century

White ware: white stoneware with clear glaze over molded elements

8th-9th centuryChinese

Boxes

Cigar Box

Unidentified Artist, 20th century

Mahogany and brass

20th centuryAmerican

Boxes

Kōdaiji Incense Container (Kōgō) with Shell and Chrysanthemum Design

Unknown Artist, Momoyama period, late 16th to early 17th century

Lacquer on wood with Kōdaiji-style decoration in gold 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 silver)

16th-17th centuryJapanese

Boxes

SUTRA BOX

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Lacquer on wood

19th centuryThai

Boxes

Circular Box with Openwork Cover and with Decoration of Dragons and Clouds

Unknown Artist, Wanli period, 1573-1620

Enameled blue-and-white ware, "wucai" type: porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels; with underglaze cobalt-blue mark reading "Da Ming Wanli nian zhi" within a double circle on the base

16th-17th centuryChinese

Boxes

Tiered Incense Container (Jūkōgō) with Crane, Turtle, Pine, and Bamboo Design

Unknown Artist, Early Edo period, 17th century

Lacquer on wood with decoration in gold utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design) and e-nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground) techniques

17th centuryJapanese