Kōdaiji box with cover

Description

This lacquer box is produced in a style associated with lacquer wares of the temple Kōdaiji in Kyoto. Kōdaiji was built in 1606 by the widow of Japan’s military ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536–1598). Kōdaiji wares were produced as early as 1586, and continued to be produced into the Edo period (1600–1868). They often feature bold diagonal patterns embellished with sprinkled gold dust and overlaid with large botanical motifs and crests, but are most famous for their naturalistic depictions of autumn grasses.

In the case of this box, stylized paulownia sprigs and button-like chrysanthemum crests, symbols used by Hideyoshi, are arranged sparingly over the geometric surface design. The same symbols appear on the interior of the doors to the shrine in Hideyoshi’s mortuary hall, as well as on many of the other lacquered objects at Kōdaiji. The ground for the design of the box, which extends continuously over the lid and bottom, is in both black and red lacquer. The red lacquer is further sprinkled with gold dust. The diagonal lines of the design and the flowers are done with a combination of brushed gold paint and e-nashiji (pear ground painting), a technique in which gold is sprinkled over surface design elements in a manner normally reserved for the background. The technique is so-called for the resulting resemblance of the treated areas to the skin of a pear. Rich variations of color are achieved by the color of lacquer over which the designs are painted, and the relative thickness of the layers of gold paint.

East Asian lacquer is produced by the Rhus tree. In order to make lacquer wares, lacquer is first refined and then applied in numerous layers over a thin base of wood, silk, or other materials. Each layer is allowed to dry, and is polished before the application of subsequent layers. Polishing is done with ground charcoal or deer horn dust. These steps render the process of producing lacquer wares time consuming. Lacquer has been used for decorating all manner of objects in East Asia, from architectural elements, statuary, eating and drinking vessels, saddles and sword ornaments, to storage boxes. This large box may have been created as part of a dining set.