Lacquers> 1900 > Reddish-purple and gold lacquered fan shape box, Japan, late Meiji period (1868-1912), around 1910.
Reddish-purple and gold lacquered fan shape box, Japan, late Meiji period (1868-1912), around 1910.
Description:The lid of the box features faunal decoration created using the maki-e technique.
This technique sees the lacquer being sprayed with gold and silver dust, in different thicknesses, in order to produce an alternation between compact, well-defined surfaces and softer areas.
Prior to decoration, the black lacquer is stretched over a layer of red lacquer, which remains transparently visible even after the decoration has been applied.
The lid is decorated with nine flying cranes, symbol of immortality, and behind them, the sun, created using the maki-e technique.
The inside of the box is embellished with black lacquer.
