Stationery box with decoration of grapes and squirrels
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay and gold painting
Dimensions
H. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm); L. 17 3/4 in. (45.1 cm); W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
Classification
Lacquer
Culture
Japan (Ryūkyū Islands)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2019
Accession Number
2019.193.45a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 17th-century stationery from the Ryūkyū Islands (modern-day Okinawa, Japan) showcases the pinnacle of East Asian lacquer artistry. Crafted in black lacquer with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay and gold painting, it measures a generous 17¾ by 14¼ inches, making it a substantial yet elegant container for writing implements and papers. The playful decoration of grapes and squirrels evokes abundance and whimsy—grapes symbolizing prosperity in Asian iconography, while squirrels add a lively, naturalistic touch. Ryūkyū lacquerware, produced during the kingdom's flourishing trade era ...