Suntory Museum of Art
About the Museum
Collection
Notable Works
Four-handled basin with autumn flower design in maki-e

Notable Works

Lacquerware

Four-handled basin with autumn flower design in maki-e

Click on the photograph for a larger image

Place of production or style: Kōdaiji maki-e
Number of components: 1
Dimensions (in cm): D. (body) 38.6, W. 53.5, H. 17.9
Date of production: Momoyama period Ealry 17th century

The ewer was used to pour water for washing the hands and face into the basin. Records from the Heian period indicate that the shape hardly changed at all until the early modern period. These pieces are particularly valuable because they have been passed down as a set. Both pieces are black lacquer. The flanks are decorated with chrysanthemum, Chinese bellflower, Patrinia, Dianthus, pampas grass, bush clover and other autumn flowers executed in hiramaki-e goldwork, harigaki engraving, and e-nashiji, use of the nashiji or pearskin technique of sprinkling the surface with coarse gold flakes, to create motifs. An ornamental border encircles the foot on both pieces. Metal fittings with arabesque on a nanakoji background, so named for its resemblance to fish roe, are mounted on the handles of the four-handled basin and the spout of the ewer.

Notable Works

Four-handled basin with autumn flower design in maki-e

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART