Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls

Kōami School

Not on view

This portable writing box has three drawers; the two upper ones are for paper and documents, while the one at the bottom holds the inkstone, water dropper, and brushes. The cabinet is elaborately decorated with the highest quality maki-e (“sprinkled pictures”). It was produced for the Tokugawa family in one of their official maki-e workshops, probably that of the Kōami family. The chrysanthemum flowers are depicted almost individually, each executed in a different hue or maki-e (flat or relief pattern) technique emphasizing the layered petal structure. Some of the flowers are shown frontally, others from the side or the back. Chrysanthemums, which represent both longevity and autumn, are often featured in classical Japanese poetry.

Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Overall with bottom drawer pulled out so inkstone and water dropper are visible

Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan
Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan
Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan
Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan
Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan
Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan
Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan
Portable Writing Cabinet with Tokugawa Family Crests, Chrysanthemums, and Foliage Scrolls, Kōami School (active second half of the 18th century), Lacquered wood with gold and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and applied gold foil on nashiji ground, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.