明治時代　柴田是真派　蒲公英酒瓢蒔絵 硯箱|Writing Box with Gourd

Shibata Zeshin

1886 · Black lacquer with gold and silver hiramaki-e, colored lacquer application · Asian Art

One of the first Japanese lacquer artists to become popular in the West, Shibata Zeshin was noted for his technical skills, imaginative compositions, invention of painted lacquer techniques, and experimentation with new colors and inlays of different materials. The brownish-red gourd that dominates the composition of this lacquer writing box is one of the motifs he used most often. The gourd, which is associated with spring, is shown here surrounded by seasonal flowers and grasses such as the dandelion.

Artist

Shibata Zeshin

Date

1886

Medium

Black lacquer with gold and silver hiramaki-e, colored lacquer application

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936