Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Room 37 | Japan 1600-1850 gallery

Discover the arts of the Edo period (1600-1868) from porcelain to lacquer to painting.

Japan 1600-1850 gallery

Lacquer for Japan

Lacquer is the sap of the Japanese sumac tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) and is collected in the same way as rubber. It is painted in layers onto an object to form a tough, waterproof coating that can be decorated with metal powders and inlays.

Although lacquer has long been considered a quintessentially Japanese art form, it was first developed in China, like many other types of Japanese art.

The Japanese lacquer industry benefited greatly from the peace and prosperity of the Edo period (1600-1868). Before this time, only the imperial court, Buddhist temples, and high-ranking samurai could afford lacquer ware.

While there continued to be a high demand for spectacular, gold-decorated lacquer items to furnish castles and mansions, the newly-wealthy merchant classes in the towns also provided a growing market for lacquer in less traditional styles.

Bottle in meiping shape with orange trees (EA2002.33) Bottle in meiping shape with orange trees (EA2002.33)   Basin used for a Buddhist hand-washing ceremony (EA2002.32) Basin used for a Buddhist hand-washing ceremony (EA2002.32)   Box with mon crests of the Inaba family (EA2005.73) Box with mon crests of the Inaba family (EA2005.73)
Flask with wisteria (EA1987.35) Flask with wisteria (EA1987.35)   Incense pillow, or makura kōro, with wisteria (EA1986.4) Incense pillow, or makura kōro, with wisteria (EA1986.4)   Octagonal box with landscape (EAX.3992) Octagonal box with landscape (EAX.3992)
Picnic set in the form of a river boat (EA2007.106) Picnic set in the form of a river boat (EA2007.106)
Notice

Objects may have since been removed or replaced from a gallery. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.

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