second half 12th century
H. 2.5 x Diam. 8.8 cm (1 x 3 7/16 in.)
Gregory (1922-1988) and Maria C. Henderson (1923-2007), Medford, MA (by 1969-1988), inherited; by Maria C. Henderson, Medford, MA (1988-1991), partial gift and partial purchase; to Harvard University Art Museums, 1991.
Lacquer on wood with decoration in sabi urushi (thick lacquer paste) and gold utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design) technique and with appliqués of lead foil and raden (mother-of-pearl) inlays; stone and copper fittings
16th-17th centuryJapaneseBox containing reproductions of seventy-one works by Duchamp
20th centuryFrenchEnamel
20th centuryGermanLacquer on wood with decoration in gold and silver utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design) and takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design) techniques, applied kirigane (cut gold and silver), and [later] raden (mother-of-pearl) inlays; metal fittings
15th-16th centuryJapaneseEarthenware with green splashed lead glaze
9th-10th centuryChineseLacquer on wood with decoration in wakasa-nuri (layered lacquer and gold foil over a thick base-coat impressed with various shapes and sprinkled with raden [mother-of-pearl] flakes), gold, silver, and sabi urushi (thick lacquer paste) utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), takamaki-e (high-relief sprinkled design), and togidashi maki-e (sprinkled design revealed by polishing) techniques, and with tsuishu (carved red lacquer), malachite, and carnelian inlays; stone and metal fittings
18th-19th centuryJapaneseCast iron with localized areas of gilding; the interior of the box and cover lined with hammered silver purportedly designed by Miochin (1624-1642)
17th centuryJapaneseKamakura-bori; black and cinnabar lacquers over a carved wooden core
14th-15th centuryJapaneseLacquer on wood with decoration in gold utilizing the hiramaki-e (low-relief sprinkled design), nashiji ("pear-skinned" ground), and kanagai (sheet gold and silver appliqué) techniques; metal fittings
15th-16th centuryJapaneseSilver
17th centuryBritishBlue-and-white ware: porcelaneous white stoneware with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt-blue
15th centuryAnnamese