Portable Nanban Box

late 16th century

Not on view

In the second half of the sixteenth century, Japanese lacquer made for Western markets was known as nanban (Southern Barbarian), a reference to the epithet given to foreigners from Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Many of these export lacquers were made in Kyoto. The maki-e (“sprinkled picture”) and rich mother-of-pearl decoration on this box consists of continuous interlinked circles (shippō) with stylized flowers in the intersections and five flower roundels on the lid.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

花丸七宝繋蒔絵螺鈿宝箱
Title: Portable Nanban Box
Period: Momoyama period (1573–1615)
Date: late 16th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Lacquered wood with gold, silver hiramaki-e, and mother-of-pearl inlay; silver fittings
Dimensions: H. 5 1/2 (14 cm); W. 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm); D. 11 3/8 in. (28.9 cm)
Classification: Lacquer
Credit Line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
Object Number: 2015.500.2.51
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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