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View of the Pinnacle - Japanese Lacquer Writing Boxes (Hardcover)
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View of the Pinnacle - Japanese Lacquer Writing Boxes (Hardcover)
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View of the Pinnacle is a richly illustrated catalogue featuring
more than eighty suzuribako, dating from the fourteenth through the
twentieth centuries, from the Edmund and Julia Lewis Collection.
suzuribako, the exquisite lacquer boxes designed to hold the
implements used in creating brush-and-ink calligraphy, have for
centuries combined utilitarian function with superb craftsmanship.
The art of creating suzuribako came into being during the Heian
period in Japan (794–1185), when aristocratic culture—both
artistic and literary—flourished; it was in full flower during
the sixteenth century and continued into modern times. The designs
on suzuribako frequently represent highly refined visual
representations of classical poetry, literature, mythology, and
history. Diverse subjects are depicted, including religious
figures, philosophers, poets, animals, mythical creatures, and
landscapes (real and imagined). These artistic representations are
often combined with calligraphed poems or excerpts from classical
literature. In the catalogue, Stephen Little and Edmund Lewis give
equal attention to both the literary content of the suzuribako and
the lacquer techniques used in crafting them. The literary
references and themes, drawn as much from Chinese as from Japanese
classical texts, reflect the deep knowledge of Chinese and Japanese
classical literature among the literate classes in Japan from the
eighth century onward. A full appreciation of the themes and
metaphorical imagery incorporated into many of the boxes requires a
deep cultural sophistication on the part of the viewer. Stephen
Little, describing the layered literary themes frequently depicted
in suzuribako, notes that “the excavation of hidden layers of
meaning in a box’s decoration becomes a thrilling quest.” The
volume includes an essay by Edmund Lewis on the nuances of meaning
in suzuribako designs, and the interviewing of the artistic and
literary expressions embodied in them. In a second essay, John
Stevens presents a brief history of Japanese calligraphy and
explains its central importance in Japanese cultural expression.
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