Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Autumn Grasses and Moon

2014

Not on view

The exterior of the lid is decorated with ampas grass executed in relief (takamaki-e) nd flat (hiramaki-e) “sprinkled picture” gold ecoration as wll as fine mother-of-pearl nlay. The interior is embellished with the esign of an autumn moon partially covered by clouds. A separate wood plate (suzuri-ita) for calligraphy paper completes the writing box. On the evening of the September full moon, it is still customary in Japan to gather and serve round rice dumplings and sake as offerings to invoke an abundant harvest. The custom of the mid-autumn moon viewing originated in China; during the Heian period (794–1185), Japanese aristocrats gathered to recite poetry under the full moon of the eighth lunar month.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

雲龍庵(北村辰夫)作　秋月蒔絵硯箱
Title: Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Autumn Grasses and Moon
Artist: Unryūan (Kitamura Tatsuō) (Japanese, born 1952)
Period: Heisei period (1989–2019)
Date: 2014
Culture: Japan
Medium: Lacquered wood with gold takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, togidashimaki-e, cut-out gold foil application, and mother-of-pearl inlay
Dimensions: H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); W. 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm,); D. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
Classification: Lacquer
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Pauline Gandel, 2016
Object Number: 2016.744a–f
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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