Collection record · Everyday wonders
Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji
The collection record classifies this work as lacquer. It is dated early 1900s. Recorded culture or place: Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji
- Date
- early 1900s
- Culture / origin
- Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
- Materials and technique
- Lacquered wood with gold and silver sprinkled powder (maki-e), foil application (kirikane), and metal inlay
- Dimensions
- Overall: 22.8 x 26.7 cm (9 x 10 1/2 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1970.28
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
The design of this box was inspired by an object in the 1639 lacquer wedding set of Chiyohime, the daughter of the shogun (ruler). Information about the set became available in the Meiji period, leading some lacquer artists to emulate its designs. This box features a scene from the chapter “First Song” (Hatsune) of the Tale of Genji, in which Prince Genji and his love Murasaki enjoy her garden. It incorporates the written characters for “first” (初, hatsu) and “sound” (音, ne), indicating the first song of the warbler in spring, associated with the new year—the water dropper for mixing the ink is in the shape of this bird.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Newman T. Halvorson · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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