DOI Heft:
No. 96 (March, 1901)
DOI Artikel:Holme, Charles: Japanese tobacco boxes
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19787#0110
Japanese Tobacco Boxes.
able renown as carvers and lacquerers have not
disdained to employ their talents in the decoration
of these objects. Zeshin, a lacquerer of surpassing
talent, produced some beautiful boxes intended for
the use of smokers. The one illustrated in Fig. 13
is a charming example of his work. The dande-
lion is represented in gold lacquer upon a dark
brown ground, the seed-vessels or " clock " of the
plant being delicately worked in sgraffito upon the
lacquered ground. Fig. 14 is another example of
lacquer work of much
beauty. The lacquered
ground is finely pow-
dered with silver, the
shells are of mother-of-
pearl inlaid in the
lacquer, and the sea-
weed is of gold lacquer.
The lid is inlaid with
butterflies in mother-
H.p.c. "^^^^P^^^MJiiggp?- of-pearl.
Minko, a celebrated
carver in wood, pro-
fig. 12 tortoise-shell and carved wood r.
duced some very in-
teresting examples of
remarkable manner. A mould is constructed tobacco boxes, one of which is shown in Fig. 15.
round the growing gourd, and the fruit is thus The wood employed is of a fibrous nature, and is
made to take any shape that may be desired. probably a species of palm. A certain " precious "
Holes are cut in the sides of the gourds, and effect is given to it by the care with which certain
lids of wood are made to fit, with attachments apparent cracks have been riveted. On close
of silk cord, as in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 represents a examination the cracks are found not to be real
portion of the shell of a cocoa-nut carved with a
representation of Hotei, the god of Contentment.
At the back a piece of deer-skin is fastened by a
silk lace passing through numerous holes round
the margin of the shell. Fig. 10 is another
example made from cocoa-nut, in which the lower
part of the shell is used, the lid being made of
wood. A snail, beautifully carved in wood, is
attached to the box. A frog in yellow bronze
appears upon the lid, and a netsuke, representing fig. 13 lacquer by zeshin
a coiled snake, is on the cord. This trio of
animal life is usually found associated together in
Japanese art, as in the present instance. Fig. 11
consists of a fungus of a hard, wood-like texture,
which has been hollowed out and lined with a
coating of black lacquer. Fig. 12 is made of the
natural carapace of a tortoise, the plastron, head,
and claws of the reptile being carved in wood.
The tobacco boxes in which material plays a
secondary part to handwork are very varied in
character. The lacquerer, the carver, the metal-
worker, the embroiderer, and the basket-maker are
all brought into requisition, and men of consider- fig. 14 lacquer with pearl inlays
90
able renown as carvers and lacquerers have not
disdained to employ their talents in the decoration
of these objects. Zeshin, a lacquerer of surpassing
talent, produced some beautiful boxes intended for
the use of smokers. The one illustrated in Fig. 13
is a charming example of his work. The dande-
lion is represented in gold lacquer upon a dark
brown ground, the seed-vessels or " clock " of the
plant being delicately worked in sgraffito upon the
lacquered ground. Fig. 14 is another example of
lacquer work of much
beauty. The lacquered
ground is finely pow-
dered with silver, the
shells are of mother-of-
pearl inlaid in the
lacquer, and the sea-
weed is of gold lacquer.
The lid is inlaid with
butterflies in mother-
H.p.c. "^^^^P^^^MJiiggp?- of-pearl.
Minko, a celebrated
carver in wood, pro-
fig. 12 tortoise-shell and carved wood r.
duced some very in-
teresting examples of
remarkable manner. A mould is constructed tobacco boxes, one of which is shown in Fig. 15.
round the growing gourd, and the fruit is thus The wood employed is of a fibrous nature, and is
made to take any shape that may be desired. probably a species of palm. A certain " precious "
Holes are cut in the sides of the gourds, and effect is given to it by the care with which certain
lids of wood are made to fit, with attachments apparent cracks have been riveted. On close
of silk cord, as in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 represents a examination the cracks are found not to be real
portion of the shell of a cocoa-nut carved with a
representation of Hotei, the god of Contentment.
At the back a piece of deer-skin is fastened by a
silk lace passing through numerous holes round
the margin of the shell. Fig. 10 is another
example made from cocoa-nut, in which the lower
part of the shell is used, the lid being made of
wood. A snail, beautifully carved in wood, is
attached to the box. A frog in yellow bronze
appears upon the lid, and a netsuke, representing fig. 13 lacquer by zeshin
a coiled snake, is on the cord. This trio of
animal life is usually found associated together in
Japanese art, as in the present instance. Fig. 11
consists of a fungus of a hard, wood-like texture,
which has been hollowed out and lined with a
coating of black lacquer. Fig. 12 is made of the
natural carapace of a tortoise, the plastron, head,
and claws of the reptile being carved in wood.
The tobacco boxes in which material plays a
secondary part to handwork are very varied in
character. The lacquerer, the carver, the metal-
worker, the embroiderer, and the basket-maker are
all brought into requisition, and men of consider- fig. 14 lacquer with pearl inlays
90