Octagonal food box with Chinese immortals and floral design
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Lacquered wood; mother-of-pearl inlay, gold leaf application on black ground and gilded metal net inserts
Dimensions
H. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm); W. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm); H. (base:) 1 7/16 in. (3.6 cm)
Classification
Lacquer
Culture & Period
Japan (Ryūkyū Islands, now Okinawa Prefecture) · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2019
Accession Number
2019.106a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite octagonal food box hails from the Ryūkyū Islands—now Okinawa Prefecture, Japan—crafted during the 18th in the Edo period (1615–1868). Measuring about 10.5 inches across and standing 10.6 inches tall with a low base, it served as a luxurious tiered container for serving delicacies, blending everyday utility with opulent artistry. The black lacquered wood ground shimmers with intricate mother-of-pearl inlays (known as *raden*) depicting Chinese immortals amid blooming florals, enhanced by gold leaf and gilded metal net inserts that catch the light like jewels. Ryūkyū lacquerware ...