Box for Writing Equipment (suzuribako)

Object Details

• Artist

  Matasune

• Label

  The design of flowering autumn grasses is featured on the surfaces of this box. On the lid under a crescent moon, are hagi (bush clover), susuki (pampas grass), fujibakama (ague weed), ominaeshi (valerian), and yomena (aster). The underside of the lid and the interior tray are both decorated with nadeshiko (pinks).

  On the rock surfaces depicted on the cover, three silver hiragana symbols (cursive phonetic script) can be detected and combined to make the word nezame (awakening from sleep). The script, cleverly embedded into the linearity of the picture, is the central feature of the uta-e (poem-picture).

  The anonymous poem alluded to by the three-syllable clue nezame is included in the early tenth-century anthology, Kokinshu (collection of poems ancient and modern).

  It reads:

  It is not the autumn dew

  That has dropped on my pillowing sleeve

  As I awaken.

  The box contains an inkstone for grinding solid ink and a water dropper, and would have contained writing brushes.

• Provenance

  From at least 1933-to 1943 

  Alexander George Mosle (1862-1945), possibly purchased in Japan [1]  

  1943-1944 

  A. Henry Mosle (1866-1957), held a lien on Alexander George Mosle’s collection through a Deed of Trust – Chattels [2]

  From 1944 

  The Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Alexander Mosle through A. Henry Mosle [3] 

  Notes:

  [1] See Alexander George Moslé, “The Mosle Collection: Descriptive Catalogue to be used in Connection with the Illustrations of ‘Japanese works of art’ selected from the Mosle Collection – Portfolio II” [book] (Leipzig: Poeschel & Trepte, 1933), vol. II, cat. 1683, p. 34. Alexander Mosle was a businessman who lived in Japan from 1884-1907, during which time he began collecting Japanese works of art.

  [2] See June 17, 1943 Deed of Trust – Chattels, between Alexander G. Mosle and Jesse Knight and Eugene W. Goodwillie, trustees on behalf of A. Henry Mosle. Alexander was indebted to his cousin Henry, and his entire collection of Japanese Art was secured as chattel for the debt under the terms of the Deed. See original Deed of Trust – Chattels in object file. 

  [3] The Freer Gallery of Art paid A. Henry Mosle and Alexander G. Mosle separate payments on May 29, 1944, approved on May 27, 1944. See also April 28, 1944 letter from A.G. Wenley to Alexander Mosle wherein Wenley indicates which items the Freer wishes to purchase from Mosle’s inventory list. See also May 26, 1944 letter from A. Henry Mosle to Alan C. Maxwell, charging Maxwell to act as agent for Henry, in the matter of the release of the Deed of Trust – Chattels at the sale of the selected objects from Alexander’s collection to the Freer. See object file for copy of invoice, letters, and original Release of Deed of Trust - Chattels. 

  Research updated January 12, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Moonlight and Clouds: Silver and Gold in the Arts of Japan (November 11, 2008 to November 11, 2009)

  East of Eden: Gardens in Asian Art (February 24 to May 13, 2007)

  Games, Contests and Artful Play in Japan (March 19 to October 23, 2005)

  Surveying the Collections: Poets and Parties (July 2, 2000 to February 4, 2001)

  Japanese Art (April 13 to November 21, 1995)

  From Concept to Context: Approaches to Asian and Islamic Calligraphy (July 28, 1986 to February 6, 1987)

  Autumn Colors (October 19 to December 20, 1984)

  Japanese and Chinese Lacquer (September 22, 1982 to June 30, 1983)

  Japanese Lacquer (18 May 1980 to 15 June 1980)

  Japanese Lacquer (April 16, 1979 to October 8, 1980)

  Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons in Japanese Art (September 14, 1977 to April 8, 1978)

  Bicentennial Exhibition: Japanese Art (December 15, 1975 to November 10, 1976)

  Chinese and Japanese Art--Lacquer and Paintings (August 18, 1967 to October 14, 1969)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Alexander G. Mosle (1863 - 1945)

  A. Henry Mosle

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1600s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Mosle, A. Henry, Mosle, Alexander G.

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Autumn, Moon, Outer space, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Lacquer, Writing, Poetry, Grasses, Lettering

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Containers