We have chosen something very special to be our featured work of art for March.
This matching Gold lacquer Suzuribako and Ryoshibako set is a recent addition to our online collection and is a wonderful example of fine Japanese craftsmanship of the early 20th Century. (As always with our Blogs and Articles, you can click on any of the images to take a closer look.)
But what are Suzuribako and Ryoshibako?
Suzuribako translates as “Inkstone Box”.
Suzuribako are traditional Japanese storage boxes for ink and writing implements.
They were often made from lacquered wood as this was seen as being the best material for safeguarding the precious inkstones and brushes stored within.
Early examples date back as far as 9th Century Japan and these first Suzuribako were larger than the more modern boxes as they were also used to store paper.
Later on, the “Ryoshibako” was developed to store and keep safe papers and documents. Ryoshibako literally translates as “Documents box”.
The finest Suzuribako and Ryoshibako often came as a matching set, such as the set we have here.
Traditional Japanese writing tools and implements, known as “Shodo” have been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries with their history deeply embedded within the development of the Japanese language and the art of calligraphy.
These objects are not merely instruments for writing but are valued for their own craftsmanship, symbolism and for their connection to the aesthetic philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, (perfection in imperfection).
The primary tools used in traditional Japanese calligraphy are as follows:
- Fude (brush)
- Sumi (ink)
- Suzuri (ink stone)
- Washi (paper)
- Bako (storage box)
Water droppers for ink and small calligraphy knives are also often included in the set, but not always.
Fude: (Brush)
The Fude is regarded as one of the most important of the traditional Japanese writing tools. These brushes come in all different shapes and sizes, each designed for specific types of calligraphy. The brush heads were made from animal hair, such as Wolf, Goat or Weasel and they were then attacked to a Bamboo handle. The quality of the brush head would significantly affect the fluidity and precision of the strokes. There are different types of brushes, including the “Sumi fude” which was used for fine writing. The “Fude” pen was used for more simple, everyday writing and the larger brushes used for “Kaisho” which was a form of heavy set, block-style writing. The flexibility and sharpness of the brush are key to achieving the dynamic, expressive and artistic strokes of Japanese calligraphy.
Sumi: (Ink)
Sumi is the ink that is used in Japanese calligraphy. It traditionally came in solid ink sticks that were made from soot and animal glue. The ink sticks would be ground on an ink stone (Suzuri), with a small amount of water to produce liquid ink for writing. The quality of the ink was crucial to the final result as it would affect the depth and richness of the brushstrokes.
Historically, ink-sticks were highly valued and their production was an art in its own right with artisans carefully mixing and shaping the ingredients to produce the highest quality ink possible. The intensity of the ink would range from light and watery to rich, thick and deep. The choice of the ink consistency was often dictated by the style of calligraphy being practiced.
Suzuri (Ink Stone)
The Suzuri is a flat stone slab used to grind the ink stick and mix it with water. It has a smooth surface with a slight depression in the centre to serve as a well for the water to gather. The process of grinding the ink is an important ritual in calligraphy and was believed to help bring about a meditative state. The ink stone was often made from high quality stone and many artists would favour stones with intricate textures and patterns.
Washi: (Paper)
Japanese paper or “Washi” is traditionally made from the bark of the Mulberry, Bamboo trees or from rice straw. These materials each give the paper a unique strength and texture. Washi is prized for its absorbency and the way it reacts with ink. Unlike Western papers which were often resistant to the ink, Washi allows the ink to bleed slightly, creating the soft edges that are so characteristic of Japanese calligraphy. The long fibres in the paper provide a natural resilience allowing for sweeping, fluid brushstrokes that Japanese calligraphy is known for. There are different types of Washi with varying degrees of smoothness and thickness depending on the need of the Calligrapher.
This Suzuribako and Ryoshibako set are both of the traditional rectangular form, the corners with rounded edges known as “chiri-i”.
Both boxes are entirely covered with a Gold o-birame ground and the outside of each, decorated with a number of superimposed fans, or “Ogi”. The ribs and guards of each fan, beautifully inlaid with Silver.
Most of these fans are open and are decorated with beautiful depictions of famous landmarks, (including the Sanjo Bridge and Mount Yoshino) and various bursts of flora and fauna.
The elaborate design carries over the lid and onto the main body of each box.
The inside of the cover of the Suzuribako depicts an Ox-drawn carriage known as a “Goshuguruma”. The carriage sits under a pine tree at the edge of a river. Across the river a flowering plum tree with rolling hills in the distance.
The Suzuribako measures 25cm by 22cm by 4cm while the Ryoshibako is 40.5cm by 32.5cm by 14.5cm
You can watch a video slid-show showing more images of this wonderful example of Japanese imagination and aristry by clicking below.
We hope you have enjoyed this article. You can browse over 100 news stories and blogs inspired by our collection of Chinese and Japanese Fine Art and Antiques by Clicking Here.
