A JAPANESE GOLD LACQUER WRITING BOX AND COVER

A JAPANESE GOLD LACQUER WRITING BOX AND COVER, SUZURIBAKO

EDO/MEIJI PERIOD

Of rectangular shape, the overlapping cover painted with a musical instrument with pipes, sho, and a richly decorated headdress with long tassels, tori kabuto, in hiramaki-e on a nashiji ground, the inside of the cover and inner tray with flower sprays in gold and silver scattered across the surface, including hibiscus, peonies, chrysanthemum, prunus and others, together with an ink stone and various implements for calligraphy, 23cm x 21cm x 4.5cm. (5)

The shape of a tori kabuto hat is inspired by the crownlike head of the mythical phoenix. This headdress, together with the sho wind instrument, were used for gagaku, the traditional imperial music and dance performance.