Writing Box (Suzuribako) with the “First Song” (Hatsune) Chapter from the Tale of Genji
Unknown Artist
early 1900s
Medium
Lacquered wood with gold and silver sprinkled powder (maki-e), foil application (kirikane), and metal inlay
Dimensions
22.8 × 26.7 cm
Classification
Lacquer
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Newman T. Halvorson
Accession Number
1970.28
About this artwork
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 firs...