Page 89 - Edo: Art in Japan, 1615–1868

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27 common with other known lacquer
Writing box with crane design in the designs by Kórin, which were in
style o/Ogata Kórin turn influenced by the Rinpa artist
Hon'ami Kóetsu. In particular,
Eighteenth century
Lacquer Kóetsu pioneered the juxtaposition
7
4.8 x 24.2 x 21.8 (i /s x 972 x 8'A) of powerful metal forms applied
Tokyo National Museum to gold grounds on lacquer boxes.
Though only five cranes are depicted
• This squarish writing box is thought in this box, the design refers to the
to be in the style of the famous second- thousand-crane motif that originated
generation Rinpa artist Ogata Kórin. in China and symbolized long life.
It is impossible to link Kórin con- The crane was supposed to live for
cretely with the production of this a thousand years, and the tortoise,
box, and the design does not appear another symbol of longevity, for ten
in posthumous compendia of his thousand. NCR
designs. But it was certainly created
under Kórin's influence at some time
during the eighteenth century. The
graceful yet bold depiction of cranes
flying against a current has much in