Artwork Page for Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji

Details / Information for Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji

初音蒔絵硯箱

early 1900s

Japan, Meiji period

(1868–1912)
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Medium
Lacquered wood with gold and silver sprinkled powder (maki-e), foil application (kirikane), and metal inlay
Measurements
Overall: 22.8 x 26.7 cm (9 x 10 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Newman T. Halvorson 1970.28.a
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

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.
A square, gold-lacquered writing box features a rectangular black inkstone centered on a shimmering landscape of rolling hills and wavy water. Above, a dark metal bird perches on a decorative mound. Three cylindrical gold-powdered tools are secured vertically to the left by a horizontal bar; a similar tool and an implement with a scalloped metal cap rest to the right. The box's raised edges are trimmed with a dark, tarnished metal frame.

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji

early 1900s

Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)

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