Inkstone Box with Autumn Grasses | Kaga Makie | 20th century

The culture of letter-writing was highly developed in Japan for centuries; in the Middle Ages, courtiers and ladies-in-waiting exchanged numerous short notes. They also used finely decorated stationery, which sometimes conveyed a message simply through its delicate coloring. Since writing letters required brushes and the ink had to be ground by hand on an inkstone, precious boxes were created not only for the stationery but also for all writing implements.

This object, which differs from an ordinary box only in its small, removable tray, is also exquisitely decorated with a motif of autumn flowers. In addition to the ancient makie technique (the term means “sprinkled image,” as gold dust was sprinkled onto a wet lacquer drawing, which, upon drying, remained as “gold painting” on the black lacquer base layer), mother-of-pearl was also used to depict kikyō (“balloon flowers,” Platycodon grandiflorus). These flowers are among the “Seven Autumn Grasses,” which are often celebrated in Japanese poetry.

The place of origin of this luxurious object is indicated as “Kaga” on the box. This is the old provincial name for what is now Ishikawa Prefecture. It is highly likely that the “Kaga workshop” is located in Wajima, Japan’s lacquer capital.