Description
A vermillion and gold lacquer food box of octagonal form and constructed in three layers. This box is decorated using a technique called haku-e in Japanese or “miaojin” in Chinese, in which gold leaf or gold powder is applied over a design drawn initially in lacquer. The sides of the box are illustrated with scenes from “The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars” (二十四孝). a classic text of Confucian filial piety written during the Yuan dynasty. The underside panels above the foot rim depict “The Eight Treasures” (八宝) which are auspicious symbols alluding to themes such as good fortune, prosperity and harmony. The footrim ringed with curly grass scrolls. The top rim panels showing 8 auspicious cranes. The interior in a bright persimmon lacquer and the undersides in a brownish black lacquer. Despite the heavy Chinese influence on the Ryukyu islands, the themes on this box as well as the over form suggest this box have have been made for trade with China rather than the local market. Ryukyu lacquer was a common trade product in the region from approximately the 14th century onward.
18th century or earlier
Japanese box
size: 27 x 272 x 29 cm