IDENTIFIERS
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id:	24319
accession number:	O.3 & A-I-1947

DATE AUDIT
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created:	Saturday 6 August 2011
updated:	Tuesday 29 April 2025

DESCRIPTIVE DATA
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object type: Wooden writing box, lacquer with pewter rims, suzuri-bako (box for writing utensils). Rectangular with rounded indented corners and a seated lid (A). The brown lacquer and gyobu nashiji ground (nashiji using large flakes of gold placed individually rather than sprinkled) is decorated in gold takamakie (high-relief sprinkled design) with a gnarled trunk of a camelia tree with a single branch. The branch has leaves, blossom and buds, two flower heads and three buds are inlaid in red coral, and one flower and one bud are inlaid in white coral, the rest are in gold. On the trunk are three characters in silver: chi-yo-wa (one thousand ages), which could be a girl's name. The size and pretty shape suggest it was made for a girl. The mikayeshi (inside of the lid) has a gyobu nashiji ground and shows gold takamakie and hirame (the flakes of gold lying on or near the surface of the lacquer) rocks with uchikomi details (hollows in the rocks filled with gold particles) and covered with grass, ferns and other small plants with red lacquer berries. On top of the rocks is a close group of three long-armed monkeys, one reaching out its right arm to grasp the moon, hence the silver mizuire (water-dropper). The inside of the lower section and the base are in gyobu nashiji (shimmering spangles using large flakes of gold); the inside is decorated with gold clouds which are continued on the the removable gyobu nashiji tray (B) around the silver water-dropper (C) which is in the shape of the crescent moon. The ink-stone (D) has gold rims; the cake of ink (E) is gilded with a deer and pine tree on one side and inscribed in blue and gold `1000 autumns illumination' on the other. The knife (F) has a carved red lacquer (tsuishu) handle and case (G), and is inscribed KIYONAGA on the blade (the name of the bladesmith).  The brush (H) is in a bamboo case (I). The rims of the lid and lower section are both cut away on two sides and edged in pewter.  The suzuri-bako fits into a protective wooden box with purple ribbon ties and a purple silk square lining.
title:	box

NOTES
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type: history note
value: Bought in Tokyo 1912


LICENSING
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text license status:	CC0
image license status:	CC-BY-NC-SA

OWNERSHIP
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instutition: The Fitzwilliam Museum
department: Applied Arts

STABLE URL
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url:	https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/24319


SUBJECTS
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moon
monkey
grass
fern
plants
buds
blossom
flower heads
camellia
clouds
moon
monkey
grass
fern
plants
buds
blossom
flower heads
camellia
clouds



TECHNIQUES
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writing box, lacquer, with pewter rims, gyobu nashiji ground (nashiji using large flakes of gold placed individually rather than sprinkled) decorated in takamakie (high-relief sprinkled design), hirame (flakes of gold lying on or near the surface of the lacquer) with uchikomi details (hollows filled with gold particles)
lacquering

CATEGORIES
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category: lacquer

DATING
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creation date:	1730 - 1760
creation date earliest:	1730
creation date latest:	1760
culture:	Edo Period (1615-1868)
culture:	18th Century, Mid

CREATORS
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maker: Unknown

DIMENSIONS
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dimension: Height
units: cm
value: 4.4

dimension: Length
units: cm
value: 23.7

dimension: Width
units: cm
value: 22.2