Inscribed box with lid for pair of cloisonne bottles

The original cedar box is constructed with compartments to hold the two bottles in cotton drawstring bags and two Chinese-style wooden stands for their display. The box lid is inscribed with ink in Japanese: “Number 324…Four sun [Japanese unit of measure equivalent to 3.03 cm.] square vase with rounded edges, design of large-blossomed chrysanthemums on lapis lazuli ground…Made by Hayashi Kodenji of Japan.” Written in pencil in English on the lid is the note: “Presented by the Theology Department of the Doshisha.” The note was probably written by a daughter of the original owner, Thomas Theron Alexander, grandfather of the donor.

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Maker(s)
Inscription: Hayashi Kodenji (1831-1915)
Historical period(s)
Meiji era, ca. 1902
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
H x W x D (a): 14.9 x 14.3 x 7.4 cm (5 7/8 x 5 5/8 x 2 15/16 in)
Geography
Japan, Nagoya
Credit Line
Gift of Emma Shelton in memory of T.T. Alexander, D.D.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1996.5.3a-d
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Container
Type

Box

Keywords
Japan, Meiji era (1868 - 1912)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

The original cedar box is constructed with compartments to hold the two bottles in cotton drawstring bags and two Chinese-style wooden stands for their display. The box lid is inscribed with ink in Japanese: "Number 324...Four sun [Japanese unit of measure equivalent to 3.03 cm.] square vase with rounded edges, design of large-blossomed chrysanthemums on lapis lazuli ground...Made by Hayashi Kodenji of Japan." Written in pencil in English on the lid is the note: "Presented by the Theology Department of the Doshisha." The note was probably written by a daughter of the original owner, Thomas Theron Alexander, grandfather of the donor.

Inscription(s)

1. (Louise A. Cort, 14 March 1996) Box lid is inscribed with ink in Japanese: "Number 324...Four sun [Japanese unit of measure equivalent to 3.03 cm] square vase with rounded edges, design of large-blossomed chrysanthemums on lapis lazuli ground...Made by Hayashi Kodenji of Japan." Written in pencil in English on the lid is the note: "Presented by the Theology Department of the Doshisha." The note was probably written by a daughter of the original owner, Thomas Theron Alexander, grandfather of the donor.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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