View of the Pinnacle: Japanese Lacquer Writing Boxes - Image 1

£50.65

Edmund J. Lewis View of the Pinnacle: Japanese Lacquer Writing Boxes

Name: View of the Pinnacle: Japanese Lacquer Writing Boxes
Brand: Edmund J. Lewis
Price: 67.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

Decorative Arts

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Description

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.

Product Specifications

Brand: Edmund J. Lewis
Format: Hardcover
ASIN: 0615505090
Category: Books > Subjects > Arts & Photography > Decorative Arts & Design > Decorative Arts
Domain: Amazon UK
Release Date: 15 August 2012
Listed Since: 04 June 2012

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Edmund J. Lewis View of the Pinnacle: Japanese Lacquer Writing Boxes

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