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Object

Object

  • Place of origin:

    Japan (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1760-1770 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (maker)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Wood covered in black lacquer and gold lacquer

  • Credit Line:

    Alexander Gift

  • Museum number:

    W.267:1-1916

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

  • Image in copyright

This covered box is known as a <i>fubako</i> or storage box for documents, scrolls or paintings due to the protective quality of lacquer against water, acids and heat and its hard and strong structure when dry. Those larger in size were mostly for paintings.
The pine tree illustrated on this box is a symbol of strength and perseverance against adverse conditions whilst bamboo illustrates a strong character.

Physical description

A rectangular letter box (fubako) with an inner trayand loose board, wood covered in black lacquer with pines and bamboo on a river bank in gold hiramaki-e ('flat sprinkled picture'), nashi-ji ('pear-skin ground') and gold foil, together with family crests of the Abe family (two feathers in a circle); two gilt copper attachment points and red silk tying cords.

Place of Origin

Japan (made)

Date

ca. 1760-1770 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (maker)

Materials and Techniques

Wood covered in black lacquer and gold lacquer

Dimensions

Depth: 3 1/4 in, Width: 3 8/16 in, Height: 15 4/16 in

Descriptive line

Rectangular letter box (fubako) with inner trayand loose, wood covered in black and gold lacquer, pines and bamboo on a river bank and family crests of the Abe family (two feathers in a circle); two gilt copper attachment points and red silk tying cords.

Labels and date

Box for letters
Wood covered in black lacquer with gold hiramaki-e lacquer and foil
Pine and bamboo with family badges
About 1760-1770
W.267-1916
Alexander Gift

The badges are probably those of the Makino and Abe families. A daughter of Makino Yasuchika (1707-1784) married Abe Yukie Masayori, who was aged 28 in 1774. This cabinet may have been part of the set of furniture given to her on that occasion.

Materials

Wood

Techniques

Lacquering

Subjects depicted

Bamboo; Trees, Pines; Mon; Subject

Categories

Containers; Lacquerware

Collection code

EAS

Qr_O487697
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