Incense box with hydrangea and bee
Unknown Artist
second half of 19th century
Medium
Gold, silver hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, cut-out gold foil application on gold ground
Dimensions
H. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); Diam. 3 in. (7.6 cm)
Classification
Lacquer
Culture & Period
Japan · Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936
Accession Number
36.100.156a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite incense box, titled *Incense Box with Hydrangea and*, hails from Japan's Meiji period (1868–1912), a time of profound transformation as the nation modernized while preserving its masterful artisanal traditions. Crafted an unknown artist in the half of the 19 century, this small lacquer treasure—measuring just 2½ inches high and 3 inches in diameter—was designed for storing fragrant incense, often used in tea ceremonies, religious rituals, or personal grooming. Its gold ground shimmers with delicate depictions of hydrangea flowers, leaves, and a bee, evoking the fleeting beauty o...