Brown Lacquer Three-Tiered Box with Inlaid Japanese Weaponry

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Brown Lacquer Three-Tiered Box with Inlaid Japanese Weaponry

DateMeiji period (1868-1912)

Object NameBox

Mediumlacquer, wood, gold and metal

ClassificationsApplied Art

DimensionsOverall (Height x Width x Depth): 92 × 133 × 153mm

AcquisitionPresented in 1926 by H.M. Queen Mary.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS014508

Keywords

About MeThis three-tiered six-sided box is covered in a light brown lacquer and features elements from Japanese armour and weaponry, including a sword, mask, arrows and quiver.

The box is similar to the exquisitely decorated small tiered boxes known as inro, which were hung from the obi, a sash used to tie around the kimono, which was secured with a netsuke (toggle). The purpose of the inro was to carry personal items as the traditional kimono had no pockets.

Lacquerware originated in China at the beginning of the 4th century B.C. It is made from the sap of the native tree Rhus Vernicifera, which produces a varnish that is used either on its own or applied to a number of media including wood, fabric, bronze, and porcelain.

In addition to carving, lacquer was also inlaid and painted. Black or deep rich brown lacquer, which imitated tortoiseshell, was a popular background for mother of pearl, hardstone and metal inlays as well as rich gold handpainted decoration.

In Japan, decorative lacquerware was made just a few centuries after the Chinese, around the 6th century A.D. As in China, the Japanese produced red and black lacquer but is particularly associated with the latter.