About the Artwork
The close ties between the Ryūkyū kingdom and the Ming Dynasty of China are clearly reflected in the motifs of this exquisite mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquer box. A single phoenix symbolized the empress, good government, and happiness; when used in a pair, as on this box, phoenixes symbolized faithful love. The marks on the interior—a fan-shaped symbol and the Chinese character “tian” (heaven) in an archaic script—may identify these pieces as belonging to the seventeenth-century Ryūkyūan king and queen. Fabric ties were attached to small rings on either side of the bottom section to secure the box and its contents. This box may have been a gift from the Ryūkyūan monarchy to a Japanese lord or lady, as seventeenth-century Japanese nobility particularly fancied such Chinese-styled objects.
Box with Design of Phoenixes and Lotus Blossoms
early 17th century
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Japanese
Ryukyuan
Lacquered wood with mother-of-pearl inlay and metal
Overall: 3 1/4 × 17 1/2 × 5 1/8 inches (8.3 × 44.5 × 13 cm)
Lacquer
Asian Art
Founders Society Purchase with funds from anonymous donor
1983.5
This work is in the public domain.
Markings
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Interior cover: Chinese character "tian" (heaven) mark in seal script, fan-shaped mark. Ryukyu imperial markings.
Provenance
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Provenance pageExhibition History
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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.
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Suggest FeedbackPublished References
Tokugawa, Yoshinobu, LACQUER OF THE RYUKYUS, 1977, no 113
SHIKKOSHI, vol 1, May 1978, p. 122, ill. no 45.
Tokugawa, Yoshinobu, "Lacquer wares with "(tian)", Fan and Weight Shaped Marks - a study into the possibility of the use of marks by the Ryukyu Monarchy," SHIKKOSHI, vol 2, Dec 1979, no 53.
Tokyo National Museum, EXHIBITION OF FAR EASTEN LACQUERS, (Commemorative Edition), p 163, no 191.
Mitchell, S., "A portfolio of East Asian lacquers," APOLLO, vol 124, no 298, Dec., 1986, p 78, (ill).
Reference to the Detroit Box is made in Tokugawa, Yoshinobu, "Lacquer Wares with Seal Marks of "(tian)", Fan and Hand drum shapes - objects newly found and their significance in the Ryukyu Monarchy," SHIKKOSHI, vol 17, Nov 1994, p. x.
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Credit Line for Reproduction
Ryukyuan, Japanese, Box with Design of Phoenixes and Lotus Blossoms, early 17th century, Lacquered wood with mother-of-pearl inlay and metal. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase with funds from anonymous donor, 1983.5.
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