Cabinet for Incense, Nest of Boxes, Tray

Japan

Not on view

This personal cabinet for the pastime of comparing fragrances is decorated with motifs that evoke seasonal fragrances. On the nested boxes, the plum blossom evokes the delicate scent that gladdens winter and augurs spring. On the tray, summer pinks and mallow recall sharper fragrances, and the heady perfume of ripening grapes attracts a dragonfly on the outer cabinet, signaling the coming of autumn.

Cabinet for Incense, Nest of Boxes, Tray, Tortoiseshell on wood with sprinkled gold lacquer, Japan

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Cabinet for Incense, Nest of Boxes, Tray, Tortoiseshell on wood with sprinkled gold lacquer, Japan
Cabinet for Incense, Nest of Boxes, Tray, Tortoiseshell on wood with sprinkled gold lacquer, Japan

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