Table and Writing Set

Table and Writing Set

Kubo Shunman

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Lacquer objects are often depicted on luxurious, limited-edition New Year’s greeting cards (surimono). This print shows a small, red lacquer, maki-e decorated writing table with an unbrushed poem card (tanzaku) placed on it. Next to the table is a lacquer writing box. On the outside, it is decorated with gold and silver chrysanthemum maki-e, while the inside is red lacquer. It contains an inkstone, a water-dropper, an ink stick, and three brushes. The brushes are very fine, suitable for tanzaku calligraphy. The poems reveal that these are accoutrements to be used for practicing the “first calligraphy” (kakizome) of the year.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Table and Writing SetTable and Writing SetTable and Writing SetTable and Writing SetTable and Writing Set

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.