Japanese Lacquer Imperial Presentation Box

Object Details

• Artist

  Akatsuka Jitoku 赤塚自得 (1871-1936)

• Description

  Of rectangular shape with round corners decorated on the lid and sides with flowering waterplants and a swirling stream below an imperial sixteen-petal chrysanthemum medallion, the blossoms inlaid in mother-of-pearl with gold lacquer details and the stems and leaves of variegated gold takamaki-e applied with kimpun, the ripples of the stream in low-relief colored gold takamaki-e and togidashi with black lacquer, nashiji and okibirame accents, the medallion kinji and the ground roiro and nashiji, the interior dense yellow nashiji and the base nashiji, the mounts silver, signed in gold lacquer on the underside of the lid; in wood storage box inscribed on a paper label on the underside of the lid gohairyo (presented) January 5, 1919 (Taisho 8.1.5)

  The decoration of the box consists of flowering water plants (sagittaria), executed in low-relief maki-e, a Japanese technique employing sprinkled and applied gold in the form of fine powder, particles, and leaf. The flowers are shaped from mother-of-pearl and inlaid in a technique known as raden. Both methods of lacquer decoration were in use in Japan by the mid-eighth century and are documented by objects in the Shosoin imperial repository which houses the possessions of Emperor Shomu.

  The design reflects fidelity to traditional Japanese design. The asymmetrical composition continues seamlessly over all the visible surfaces.This concept developed in lacquer design as early as the Heian period (794--1185), and was given new vitality by the innovative designs of the Kyoto artists, Koetsu (1558--1637) and Korin (1658--1716). The legacy of their lacquer designs is reflected in the decoration of this box, which combines superb technique with a subtle and sensitive approach to composition. Even the perfectly centered imperial chrysanthemum crest is integrated into the overall composition as if it represented a full moon. The extraordinary quality of the decoration is revealed in such details as the subtly varied colors reflected from the inlaid shell, and the delicate tonalities of the gold decoration, which also reflects iridescent tones in changing light.

• Inscriptions

  1. (Ann Yonemura, 10 September 1997) The artist, Akatsuka Jitoku, is identified by a signature and seal written in gold on the interior of the lid.

  1. (Ann Yonemura, 10 September 1997) The artist, Akatsuka Jitoku, is identified by a signature and seal written in gold on the interior of the lid.

• Provenance

  From 1997

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased at auction, Christie's, New York, Sale No. 8732, September 17, 1997, lot no. 230 [1]

  Notes:

  [1] See Curatorial Note 4, Duley, October 6, 1997, in the object record.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Bold and Beautiful: Rinpa in Japanese Art (June 28, 2015 to January 3, 2016)

  Beyond the Legacy--Anniversary Acquisitions of the Freer Gallery of Art (October 11, 1998 to April 11, 1999)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Christie's (New York)

• Origin

  Tokyo, Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Freer Gallery of Art

• Type

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1910s

• Name

  Christie's, New York

• Place

  Tokyo, Japan

• Topic

  Art, Inlay (process), Chrysanthemum, Maki-e, Japanese Art, Lacquer, Taisho era (1912 - 1926), Iridescence

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Containers