Tiered Box (Jūbako) with Design of Boats and Plovers

second half of the 19th century

Not on view

In the nineteenth century Shibata Zeshin, who exhibited at several world's fairs, was one of the few Japanese artists known in the West. He is noted both for his use of lacquer as a painting medium and for his innovative melding of techniques and unusual materials in lacquers. The boats here are made of pewter that was roughly finished with lacquer, while the traditional "sprinkled gold" (maki-e) technique defines the sheaves of rice. The combed pattern on the waves illustrates Zeshin's revival of the "blue wave" (seigaiha-nuri) technique, in which lacquer thickened with egg white or clay is placed on a surface and then combed into a pattern with a bamboo brush. Small pieces of pearl shell form the plovers flying over the scene, which has autumnal overtones.

Artwork Details

Title: Tiered Box (Jūbako) with Design of Boats and Plovers
Artist: Shibata Zeshin (Japanese, 1807–1891)
Period: Meiji period (1868–1912)
Date: second half of the 19th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Gold maki-e on black and brown lacquer, with mother-of-pearl inlay and pewter
Dimensions: L. 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm); W. 9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm); H. 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm)
Classification: Lacquer
Credit Line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
Object Number: 2015.500.2.53a–g
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Shibata Zeshin

In the same medium

From the same time and place

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Case (Inrō) in the Shape of an Ink Stick with Design of God of Longevity (Jurōjin), Reading beneath a Star Constellation (obverse);Twelve-Character Inscription (reverse), Shibata Zeshin Japanese, Roiro (waxen) lacquer with black hiramakie sprinkled and polished lacquer and takamakie sprinkled and polished lacquer relief; Interior: roiro; Netsuke: lacquer in shape of a worn ink stick; Ojime: black lacquer bead, Japan — Case (Inrō) in the Shape of an Ink Stick with Design of God of Longevity (Jurōjin), Reading beneath a Star Constellation (obverse);Twelve-Character Inscription (reverse)
Shibata Zeshin
19th century

Poem Card (Tanzaku) Box with Flower Bouquet, Shibata Zeshin Japanese, Lacquered wood with gold, silver, color, takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, and togidashimaki-e, Japan — Poem Card (Tanzaku) Box with Flower Bouquet
Shibata Zeshin
19th century

Rising Sun, Shibata Zeshin Japanese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan — Rising Sun
Shibata Zeshin
second half of the 19th century

Three Men Looking at Framed Lacquer Drawing, Shibata Zeshin Japanese, Album leaf; lacquer on gold paper, Japan — Three Men Looking at Framed Lacquer Drawing
Shibata Zeshin

Village among Rocks, Shibata Zeshin Japanese, Colored lacquers on paper, Japan — Village among Rocks
Shibata Zeshin
19th century

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