Tobacco Box
about 1850-1890 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Zeshin was the most creative influence in the field of lacquer during the second half of the nineteenth century. Through an intensive study of past lacquer masterpieces, Zeshin developed an enormous interest in lacquer techniques. He perfected lacquer surfaces imitating other materials, such as bronze, ceramic and stone. He rediscovered how to produce seigaiha-nuri ('blue sea wave', a combed wave technique in low relief), a technique reputed to have been introduced by Seigai Kanshichi in the Genroku era (1688-1704).
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | <i>Kanshitsu</i> (substrate made by fixing hemp over a mould with lacquer, often known as 'dry lacquer') covered in brown-black lacquer, with <i>seigaiha</i> ('blue sea wave', a combed wave lacquer technique in low relief), <i>takamaki-e</i> (a <i>maki-e</i> technique in which parts of the design can be raised by clay or charcoal powder) and <i>urushi-e</i> (painting on lacquer in lacquer) in black lacquer. |
Brief description | Tobacco box, dry-lacquer body covered in brown and black lacquer with a raised design of waves, rock, shells, and seaweed, signed Zeshin, Japan, ca. 1850-1890 |
Physical description | Tobacco box (tonkotsu) and lid, the substrate made by fixing hemp over a mould with lacquer, a technique often known as 'dry lacquer' (<i>kanshitsu</i>), in the form of a rectangular container with rounded corners, being wider at the bottom than the top, covered in brown-black lacquer, with a design of swirling waves at the water's edge from the bottom left to the top right of one large side and over to the other in seigaihanuri ('blue sea wave lacquer', a combed wave lacquer technique in low relief), with the focal point being on one small side, this having the addition of waves, rock, shells, and seaweed in takamaki-e (a maki-e technique in which parts of the design can be raised by clay or charcoal powder) and urushi-e (painting on lacquer in lacquer) in black lacquer. |
Dimensions |
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Content description | seaweed, waves, shells |
Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | Zeshin |
Gallery label | TOBACCO BOX
Wood covered in brown and black lacquer with seigaihanuri (combed wave pattern)
Waves, shells and seaweed
Signed Zeshin
About 1850-1890
W.187-1916
ALEXANDER GIFT
Shibata Zeshin (1807-91) was the most creative influence in the field of lacquer during the second half of the 19th century. Through an intensive study of past lacquer masterpieces, Zeshin developed an enormous interest in lacquer techniques. As a result he perfected lacquer surfaces imitating other materials, such as bronze, ceramic and stone. He even rediscovered how to produce seigaihanuri (blue sea wave coating), a technique reputed to have been introduced by Seigai Kanshichi in the Genroku era (1688-1704). |
Credit line | Alexander Gift |
Object history | Strange V&A catalogue no. 1014 |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Zeshin was the most creative influence in the field of lacquer during the second half of the nineteenth century. Through an intensive study of past lacquer masterpieces, Zeshin developed an enormous interest in lacquer techniques. He perfected lacquer surfaces imitating other materials, such as bronze, ceramic and stone. He rediscovered how to produce seigaiha-nuri ('blue sea wave', a combed wave technique in low relief), a technique reputed to have been introduced by Seigai Kanshichi in the Genroku era (1688-1704). |
Collection | |
Accession number | W.187A-1916 |
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Record created | May 20, 2009 |
Record URL |
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