Shikishi (square calligraphy paper) Box with Design of Flowers and Praying Mantis, 花草蟷螂蒔絵色紙箱, Meiji period (1868–1912), second

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Shikishi (square calligraphy paper) Box with Design of Flowers and Praying Mantis, 花草蟷螂蒔絵色紙箱, Meiji period (1868–1912), second half of the19th century, Japan, Lacquered wood with gold, silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, cutout gold foil application, mother-of-pearl inlay on black lacquer ground, H. 9 3/4 ( cm), W. 8 in. ( cm); D. 1 1/2 in. ( cm), Lacquer, Writing boxes were produced in large numbers from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century—a testament to the rise of literacy in Japan. As is typical of such boxes, the interior of this piece has a different but related design and holds an inkstone and other implements for writing and ink making

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Size: 4088px × 4962px
Photo credit: © Artokoloro / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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