Page 313 - JAPAN THE SHAPING OFDAIMYO CULTURE 1185-1868

237

237 Set of tray and tablewares 238 Picnic set sake container, a square tray, a footed tray
maki-e, black and red lacquer on wood maki-e lacquer and gold on wood with cut corners, and sake cups, all deco-
1
tray a 16.0 x 36.3 x 36.3 (05/i6 x 14^4 x 37.0 x 37.8 x 23.0 (145/8 x 147/8 x 9 Ao) rated with motifs of the four seasons in
H'A) Edo period, i8th-i9th century maki-e lacquer. The top of the frame is
1
tray b 13.5 x 33.4 x 33.0 (55/16 x i3 /8 x Eisei Bunko, Tokyo decorated with a pair of carp and churning
13) waves in slightly raised gold and silver
n
tray c 11.9 x 30.7 x 30.4 (4 /i6 x izVió x This picnic set includes a multi-tiered box takamaki-e (relief maki-e) lacquer on a
nVio) for food, dishes, a pair of sake flasks, and pear-skin ground (nashiji). The lid of the
Edo period, lyth century cups. The various items are covered with a octagonal tiered box is covered with a
chrysanthemum design primarily in nashiji background and a framed picture
Hokkeji, Gifu Prefecture from The Tale of Genji and the sides of
slightly raised gold and silver takamaki-e
This set of trays and bowls is said to have (relief maki-e) lacquer and sheet gold on a each tier hold framed flower and bird de-
drum-shaped
signs in maki-e lacquer. The
been used by Mitsumasa (1619-1633), pear-skin ground (nashiji). This type of set, sake container is decorated with a phoenix
grandson of Katô Kiyomasa (1562-1611). popular from the Momoyama period on- design on an exposed wood-grain ground.
Kiyomasa was a retainer of Toyotomi Hi- ward, is known in Japanese by several
deyoshi (1537-1598) and daimyo of a do- names, such as kdchu (travel kitchen), sa- Because the drum was indispensable for
main in Higo Province (present-day gejù (portable tiered box), and hanami singing and dancing at parties, sake con-
tainers came to be made in the shapes of
Kumamoto Prefecture). On a black lac- bentd (flower-viewing lunch box). SN drums; though the earliest extant exam-
quer ground, three different mon (family
crests) are depicted in gold hiramaki-e 239 Picnic set ples date from the Muromachi period,
they are known from Kamakura-period
(level maki-e) lacquer. The paulownia mon maki-e lacquer on wood paintings. Mandarin ducks on rocks are de-
was given to the Katô by Toyotomi Hide- 32.6 x 34.8 x 17.8 (12^Ao x 133/4 x 7) picted on the top of the rectangular sake
yoshi. The Chinese bellflower and orizumi Edo period, i8th-i9th century container, and landscapes are framed on
(broken inkstick) mon were originally the Eisei Bunko, Tokyo the sides. The interior of the square tray
crests of the Bitó family, daimyo of a do- has a persimmon and chestnut design on a
main in Sanuki Province (currently Ka- Fitted inside the outer frame of this picnic nashiji background; a running water and
gawa Prefecture), but due to poor set are a lidded four-tiered octagonal box, a maple design decorates the sides. On the
administration, their domain was confis- drum-shaped sake container, a box-shaped footed tray is a plum tree and pheasant de-
cated and their armor and other personal sign on a nashiji background. The cups
belongings given to Katô IÇiyomasa; subse-
quently, the Bitô mon were also used by have a design of cherry blossoms and run-
a wood-grain ground.
SN
ning water on
the Katô family. SN
300