Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Court Carriage and Wild Ginger

late 18th–early 19th century

Not on view

This document box is embellished with an ox carriage (Gosho-guruma) that was used by the emperor and empress, and also by aristocrats. Gosho, meaning the Imperial Palace, is an honorific that extended to aristocrats. Court carriages are sometimes also referred to as Genji-guruma, as they were often depicted in paintings associated with the literary classic, The Tale of Genji. The imagery here of the cart and wild ginger refers to the Tale’s ninth chapter, “Leaves of Wild Ginger” (Aoi).

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

葵御所車蒔絵料紙箱
Title: Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Court Carriage and Wild Ginger
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: late 18th–early 19th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Lacquered wood with gold and silver hiramaki‑e, togidashimaki-e, and e-nashiji (“pear-skin picture”), with mother‑of‑pearl inlay on black ground
Dimensions: H. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm); W. 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm); D. 13 in. (33 cm)
Classification: Lacquer
Credit Line: Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Object Number: 14.40.882a, b
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

The Bodhisattva Jizō, Intan Japanese, Japanese cypress wood (hinoki) with polychrome pigments, gold paint (kindei), cut gold leaf (kirikane), and rock-crystal eyes, Japan — The Bodhisattva Jizō
Intan
1291

Cosmetic Box (Tebako) with Chrysanthemum Flowers, Lacquered wood with gold, silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, gold, silver foil application on nashiji ground; gilt bronze fittings, Japan — Cosmetic Box (Tebako) with Chrysanthemum Flowers
Japan
first half of the 15th century

Sutra Box (Kyōbako) with Sun and Clouds, Lacquered wood with gold hiramaki-e; gilt bronze fittings, Japan — Sutra Box (Kyōbako) with Sun and Clouds
Japan
late 14th–early 15th century

Two-tiered box with Oribe glaze, Suzuki Gorō Japanese, Stoneware with iron-oxide and coppergreen overglaze decoration and gold lacquer repairs (Oribe ware), Japan — Two-tiered box with Oribe glaze
Suzuki Gorō
ca. 1997

Incense Box (Kogo) with Pines and Plovers, Lacquered wood with gold togidashimaki-e on nashiji (“pear-skin” ground), Japan — Incense Box (Kogo) with Pines and Plovers
Japan
early 14th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.