Portable Cabinet (sage-dansu)
Datelate 16th - early 17th century
Maker
Japanese
Label TextSquirrels frolic among trailing grapevines on the outside of this portable storage cabinet, which features three precious materials in addition to lacquer—gold, silver, and mother-of-pearl. The squirrels and some of the leaves, grapes, and grapevines were created by sprinkling powdered gold foil on the lacquer surface, a technique called maki-e (literally, “sprinkled pictures”). Some of the leaves were rendered using the same technique but with powdered silver and delicate gold veins. Some of the grapes are iridescent mother-of-pearl. The dynamic design and bold color contrast reflect urban taste in Japan in the late 1500s, a time that saw major political upheavals and a rising merchant class whose new wealth gave them access to costly lacquer furnishings.
Object number72.16
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Masterpieces of Japanese Art from the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum", November 1, 1998 - March 1, 1999
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Flights of Fancy: Natural and Supernatural Images In Japanese Art", December 9, 1998 - August 1, 1999
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "A Thousand Years of Beauty: Japanese Art in Seattle", July 16, 2001 - November 17, 2002
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Refined Harmony: Decorative Arts from the Edo Period", March 7, 2003 - March 23, 2004
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "From Tea Master To Townsman", October 1, 1987 (10/01/1987)
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "A Thousand Cranes: Treasures of Japanese Art", February 5 - July 12, 1987 (02/05/1987 - 07/12/1987)Published ReferencesKnight, Michael, "East Asian Lacquers in the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1992, no. 16, pp. 22-23Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
Dimensions10 1/8 x 9 1/8 x 14 7/8 in. (25.7 x 23.2 x 37.8 cm)
MediumLacquered wood with mother-of-pearl inlay and metal fittings
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