Food Box thumbnail 1
Not on display

Food Box

ca. 1860 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Japanese name for this type of tiered food box is ‘jubako’. This example was bought at the Paris International Exposition of 1867 for the extremely high price of £60.00.

The high-quality cloisonne enamel decoration is extensive; all the bases of the tiers are enamelled with ‘karakusa’ (Chinese grass), scrolls and fans. The lower base has an applied mosaic-like Japanese character for ‘Good Luck’ in coloured enamels. The top of the lid has a scene of cranes and pines (both symbols of longevity) on the legendary mountain-island Horai, a place of eternal youth and immortality.

We do not know who made this piece but it is most likely to have been produced in Nagoya, possibly even by Kaji Tsunekichi, the artist responsible for the renaissance of Japanese cloisonné enamels around 1840. The type, style and application of the enamels here have many similar features to another early cloisonné vessel in the V&A’s collections (Museum no. 894-1869). It too was purchased at the Paris International Exposition of 1867.

Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Tiered Box
  • Tier
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Copper body, cloisonné enamels
Brief description
Met, Japan, VESS/CONT/HOLDERS, CLOISONNE

Met, Japan, VESS/CONT/HOLDERS, CLOISONNE

Met, Japan, VESS/CONT/HOLDERS, CLOISONNE
Physical description
Tiered and lidded food box (Japanese: jubako) with cloisonné enamel decoration
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.7cm
Style
Object history
Purchased from the Paris Exhibition, 1867 (The Tycoon's Government), accessioned in 1869. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Summary
The Japanese name for this type of tiered food box is ‘jubako’. This example was bought at the Paris International Exposition of 1867 for the extremely high price of £60.00.

The high-quality cloisonne enamel decoration is extensive; all the bases of the tiers are enamelled with ‘karakusa’ (Chinese grass), scrolls and fans. The lower base has an applied mosaic-like Japanese character for ‘Good Luck’ in coloured enamels. The top of the lid has a scene of cranes and pines (both symbols of longevity) on the legendary mountain-island Horai, a place of eternal youth and immortality.

We do not know who made this piece but it is most likely to have been produced in Nagoya, possibly even by Kaji Tsunekichi, the artist responsible for the renaissance of Japanese cloisonné enamels around 1840. The type, style and application of the enamels here have many similar features to another early cloisonné vessel in the V&A’s collections (Museum no. 894-1869). It too was purchased at the Paris International Exposition of 1867.
Collection
Accession number
895-1869

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Record createdDecember 16, 2005
Record URL
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