Writing Box thumbnail 1
Writing Box thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Writing Box

1650-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin




Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 7 parts.

  • Writing Box
  • Lid
  • Tray
  • Ink Stone Tray
  • Ink Stone
  • Water Dropper Tray
  • Water Dropper
Materials and techniques
Wood, covered in gold and silver lacquer, and inlaid with lead.
Brief description
Writing box of square form, with pines, rocks and clouds at the sea shore in gold and silver lacquer with gold and silver kirikane; Japan, ca. 1650-1700.

Physical description
Writing box of square form with bevelled edges and corners, decorated with pines, rocks and bands of mist at the sea shore in gold and silver nashi-ji and takamaki-e lacquer with gold and silver kirikane; inside the lid is a design of autumn flowers with thin bands of mist under a crescent moon, inlaid with lead, in similar techniques except for hiramaki-e instead of takamaki-e lacquer. The inside of the box consists of a tray to the right and, on the left, a frame holding an inkstone and oval metal water-dropper, with the lacquered parts continuing the decorative theme and lacquer techniques from inside the lid.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.5cm
  • Depth: 22.4cm
  • Width: 21.0cm
Style
Credit line
Salting Bequest
Object history
Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Subjects depicted
Summary

Collection
Accession number
W.151 to F-1910

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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