Writing Box with Pontoon Bridge, National Treasure lacquerware at Tokyo National Museum, Japan
The Writing Box with Pontoon Bridge is a rectangular lacquered container made from wood, urushi, gold, silver, and lead with a distinctive domed lid. The surface features decorative lead boats and a bridge rendered in multiple materials that create visual depth and texture across the piece.
The piece was created in the early 1700s during the Edo period, a time when Japanese lacquerware artists developed innovative techniques for combining multiple materials. This era saw significant advancement in the craft, pushing artisans to explore new approaches to decoration and construction.
The box displays refined calligraphy from a classical poetry collection through carefully placed silver elements on its surface. This combination of text and imagery reflects the Japanese appreciation for layering literary and visual meaning in everyday objects.
The box is preserved at the Tokyo National Museum where it is kept under controlled conditions to protect its delicate materials. Visitors should expect to view it through display cases as it requires careful environmental management to prevent damage.
The piece combines an unusually diverse range of materials including wood, urushi, gold, silver, and lead within a single object. This material complexity was noteworthy for the period and demonstrates the ambitious technical skill of the maker.
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