Incense Box with Scene from Noh Play Kokaji
The cover and inside tray illustrate a famous Noh play based in the late tenth and early eleventh centuries. In the play, the emperor receives an oracle in a dream and the famous sword maker Kokaji forges a sword with the help of a Shinto deity. This deity appears as a fox; however, on the cover of the box, both figures are shown in human form. An inscription on the bottom of the box indicates that it was produced in the style of Koma Kansai II (1767–1835) by one of the many artists who worked in this tradition and often used the name of the original master.
Artwork Details
- 明治時代 古満派 小鍛冶蒔絵香箱
- Title: Incense Box with Scene from Noh Play Kokaji
- Artist: Koma School (Japanese)
- Period: Meiji period (1868–1912)
- Date: second half of the 19th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Black lacquer with gold, silver, and red hiramaki-e and togidashimaki-e
- Dimensions: H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); W. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); L. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm)
- Classification: Lacquer
- Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936
- Object Number: 36.100.160a–c
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
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.