Arkivism
Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia
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Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia

late 1500s · Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold and silver powder (maki-e) and gold and silver foil application

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is in the paulownia tree. Along with the dragon, the bird is a symbol of imperial power in East Asia. This box––a container for an inkstone, brushes, and ink––is both functional and lavish, its dramatic effects achieved with a pear-skin ground decoration ( nashiji ) and sprinkled powder decoration in high relief ( takamaki-e ).

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineWriting Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (桐に鳳凰金銀蒔絵硯箱), late 1500s. Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615). Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold and silver powder (maki-e) and gold and silver foil application; 4 x 20.5 x 23.5 cm (1 9/16 x 8 1/16 x 9 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 2016.34
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