Suntory Museum of Art
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Notable Works
Writing box with Nonomiya design in maki-e

Notable Works

Lacquerware

Writing box with Nonomiya design in maki-e

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Number of components: 1
Dimensions (in cm): W. 22.3, D. 22.8, H. 4.5
Date of production: Edo period 17th century

A square writing box with fitted lid, curved top and body. Depicted primarily in slightly raised takamaki-e and hiramaki-e on a black lacquer surface with hirameji exposed metal flakes, a carriage sits in autumn fields on a moonlit night. The workmanship is exquisite with silver maki-e partly applied to the clouds and rocks, inlaid silver nacre for the moon, aogai shell for the bell crickets among the autumn flowers, several kinds of gold dust, and kirikane cut pieces of gold and silver. The unvarnished torii gate and low brushwood fence drawn in multi-colored lacquer on the inside of the lid, and the carriage with no one in it tells us that the image references the "Sakaki" scene from the Tale of Genji. A masterpiece of early Edo period lacquerwork that breathes fresh air into the traditional techniques.

Notable Works

Writing box with Nonomiya design in maki-e

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART