Writing Box with Gourd

Writing Box with Gourd

Shibata Zeshin

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of the first Japanese lacquer artists to become popular in the West, Shibata Zeshin was noted for his technical skills, imaginative compositions, invention of painted lacquer techniques, and experimentation with new colors and inlays of different materials. The brownish-red gourd that dominates the composition of this lacquer writing box is one of the motifs he used most often. The gourd, which is associated with spring, is shown here surrounded by seasonal flowers and grasses such as the dandelion.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Writing Box with GourdWriting Box with GourdWriting Box with GourdWriting Box with GourdWriting Box with Gourd

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.