片輪車蒔絵香合|Incense Box (Kōgō) with Cartwheels Submerged in Water

Unknown

15th century · Lacquered wood with gold togidashimaki-e and hiramaki-e on nashiji (“pear-skin” ground) · Asian Art

The theme of this small incense box’s design, cartwheels in a stream, reflects the Heian-period (794–1185) practice of soaking the wheels of ox carts in water to prevent them from drying out and cracking. Popular during the Heian period, this pattern is also seen on both mirrors and decorated calligraphy papers used for sutra scrolls. This box was perhaps originally part of a cosmetic set and would have been a container for tooth-blackening material.

Artist

Unknown

Date

15th century

Medium

Lacquered wood with gold togidashimaki-e and hiramaki-e on nashiji (“pear-skin” ground)

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015