Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Deer and Butterflies

Japan

Not on view

This document box is embellished with seasonal motifs: the butterflies represent spring, and the deer is a symbol of autumn. The lid is decorated with an autumn landscape featuring large ferns. Deer were favored as design elements by Rinpa lacquer artists, but they had been represented in Japanese lacquer art since the medieval period. Autumn landscapes with deer were popular painting subjects in the Edo period.

Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Deer and Butterflies, Lacquered wood with gold takamaki‑e, hiramaki‑e, togidashimaki‑e, mother‑of‑pearl inlay, and silver foil application, Japan

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Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Deer and Butterflies, Lacquered wood with gold takamaki‑e, hiramaki‑e, togidashimaki‑e, mother‑of‑pearl inlay, and silver foil application, Japan
Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Deer and Butterflies, Lacquered wood with gold takamaki‑e, hiramaki‑e, togidashimaki‑e, mother‑of‑pearl inlay, and silver foil application, Japan
Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Deer and Butterflies, Lacquered wood with gold takamaki‑e, hiramaki‑e, togidashimaki‑e, mother‑of‑pearl inlay, and silver foil application, Japan

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