This is the work of the painter and lacquer artist Shibata Zeshin. Zeshin specialized in bronze paint which he has applied to the whole box. The exterior depicts five festival day designs in silver and gold maki-e, multi-colored lacquer, thin sheets of gold, and blue shell. The designs are temari balls and daikon radish for the Nanakusa festival on January 7; a bottle gourd, branches of cherry and peach for the Dolls Festival on March 3; a long sword and wild ginger for the Boys' Day Festival on May 5; brushes and mulberry leaves for Tanabata on July 7; and branches of aster for the Chrysanthemum Festival on September 9. Traditional metaphorical motifs representing the five festival days that celebrate the turn of the seasons are presented on a single box.
Search by title, artist, place, style or other key words
2025 January
2025 February
2025 March
2025 April
2025 May
2025 June
2025 July
2025 August
2025 September
2025 October
2025 November
2025 December
2026 January
2026 February
2026 March
2026 April
2026 May
2026 June
2026 July
2026 August
2026 September
2026 October
2026 November
2026 December