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Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

夜紫陽花文硯箱

1930s
(1926-89)
Lacquered wood and silver with gold, silver, and color sprinkled powder (maki-e)
5.4 x 23.1 x 25.3 cm (2 1/8 x 9 1/8 x 9 15/16 in.)
Lillian M. Kern Memorial Fund 2020.67
Location: not on view
This artwork is known to be under copyright.

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Did You Know?

The moody, glamorous look of the box is an excellent example of reconsidering classical seasonal motifs.

Description

Japanese writing boxes are designed to hold all the tools for traditional calligraphy, including an inkstone, water dropper, ink cake, and brushes. This box retains its inkstone and water dropper, the latter of which has a design of the sun behind clouds—a contrast to the hydrangea flower in moonlight motif on the box’s lid.
Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Hydrangea at Night

1930s

Japan, Shōwa period (1926-89)

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