ticketsMember | Make a donation

Stacked Food Box (Jūbako) with Taro Plants and Chrysanthemums

mid-19th century
Not on view
This food box was designed for a celebratory meal, such as New Year’s feast. It comes with two lids so that the boxes can be easily separated into two sets. The decorative, modern design consists of taro plants (satoimo) and chrysanthemum flowers.

Shibata Zeshin was renowned for both his lacquer works and paintings. Because he started his career in the Edo period and worked through the early Meiji period, he crossed not only the boundaries of various media but also transmitted Edo-period techniques and design sensibilities to modern lacquer artists. Zeshin was trained by Koma Kansai II (1767–1835), a prominent member of the Koma family of maki-e artists, and studied with Shijō-school painters. His interest in sketching from nature reflected in his detailed compositions of natural themes.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 里芋菊蒔絵重箱
  • Title: Stacked Food Box (Jūbako) with Taro Plants and Chrysanthemums
  • Artist: Shibata Zeshin (Japanese, 1807–1891)
  • Period: late Edo (1615–1868)–early Meiji (1868–1912) period
  • Date: mid-19th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Lacquered wood, gold and silver hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and colored togidashimaki-e
  • Dimensions: H. 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm); W. 9 in. (22.9 cm); D. 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm)
  • Classification: Lacquer
  • Credit Line: Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015
  • Object Number: 2015.300.289a–g
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
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

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

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.