ticketsMember | Make a donation

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
  • 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

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Two-tiered box with Oribe glaze, Suzuki Gorō Japanese, Stoneware with iron-oxide and coppergreen overglaze decoration and gold lacquer repairs (Oribe ware), Japan
Two-tiered box with Oribe glaze
Suzuki Gorō
ca. 1997
Untitled MV-202 (Metavoid-202), Akiyama Yō 秋山陽 Japanese, Unglazed stoneware with rusted iron coating, Japan
Untitled MV-202 (Metavoid-202)
Akiyama Yō 秋山陽
2020
Black tea bowl, Tsujimura Shirō Japanese, Stoneware with iron glaze (Mino ware, Black Oribe type), Japan
Black tea bowl
Tsujimura Shirō
2002
Set of five plates with bamboo grasses in snow
Kitaōji Rosanjin 北大路魯山人
ca. 1950s
Carved Lacquer Box “Green Flower”, Matsumoto Tatsuya Japanese, Wood with green and yellow lacquer, gold maki-e, mother-of-pearl inlay, Japan
Carved Lacquer Box “Green Flower”
Matsumoto Tatsuya
2012

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.