Mirror, and Mirror Box (Kagami-bako) with Feather Crest and Peony Scrolls

Japan

Box: Edo period (1615–1868), 18th century; Mirror: Kamakura period (1185–1392)

Not on view

Originally, the lid of this mirror box was most likely a cover for a three-legged, portable food container (hokai) used by a daimyo (feudal lord) during a procession. The finely executed lid with gold maki-e (“sprinkled picture”) decoration is embellished with a family crest (a whorl of eight hawk feathers) surrounded by an elegant peony scroll pattern. The crest belonged to a branch of the Inoue family, lords of Mikawa Province (present-day Aichi Prefecture) and close allies of the Tokugawa shoguns. The lid was later made into a box to hold a large Kamakuraperiod mirror.

Mirror, and Mirror Box (Kagami-bako) with Feather Crest and Peony Scrolls, Lacquered wood with gold hiramaki-e on black lacquer ground; bronze mirror, Japan

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Mirror, and Mirror Box (Kagami-bako) with Feather Crest and Peony Scrolls, Lacquered wood with gold hiramaki-e on black lacquer ground; bronze mirror, Japan
Mirror, and Mirror Box (Kagami-bako) with Feather Crest and Peony Scrolls, Lacquered wood with gold hiramaki-e on black lacquer ground; bronze mirror, Japan
Mirror, and Mirror Box (Kagami-bako) with Feather Crest and Peony Scrolls, Lacquered wood with gold hiramaki-e on black lacquer ground; bronze mirror, Japan

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