Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (inkstone and water dropper)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (inkstone and water dropper)

Date
c. 1573–99
Medium
Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold and silver powder (maki-e) and gold and silver foil application
Culture
Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615)
Department
Japanese Art
Institution
Cleveland Museum of Art

The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is in the paulownia tree. Along with the dragon, the bird is a symbol of imperial power in East Asia. This box––a container for an inkstone, brushes, and ink––is both functional and lavish, its dramatic effects achieved with a pear-skin ground decoration ( nashiji ) and sprinkled powder decoration in high relief ( takamaki-e ). The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is the paulownia tree.

View at Cleveland Museum of Art ↗

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.

Related across collections

Semantically similar works from Cleveland Museum of Art and other institutions.

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (tray)

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (tray)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (base)

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (base)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (lid)

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (lid)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing box with pines, plum, chrysanthemums, and paulownia

Writing box with pines, plum, chrysanthemums, and paulownia

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Base of Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Chrysanthemum and Plum Containing Inkstone, Water-dropper, Brushes, Ink-stick Holder, and Paper Knife

Base of Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Chrysanthemum and Plum Containing Inkstone, Water-dropper, Brushes, Ink-stick Holder, and Paper Knife

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo

Cleveland Museum of Art

Writing box with bridge and waves

Writing box with bridge and waves

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Calligraphy box decorated with gentians

Calligraphy box decorated with gentians

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Design of Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo (base)

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Design of Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo (base)

Cleveland Museum of Art

(Writing box with peonies, wisteria, and a Chinese lion chasing butterflies)

(Writing box with peonies, wisteria, and a Chinese lion chasing butterflies)

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Design of Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo (lid)

Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Design of Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo (lid)

Cleveland Museum of Art