Bunko and Suzuribako Set with the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove Decoration

Japan, late Edo period – early Meiji period, 19th century
Gold maki-e lacquer on brown nashiji ground, hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, aogai mother-of-pearl inlays, ink stone and bronze suiteki

This set consists of a bunko, a document box, and a suzuribako, a box for writing instruments. The two pieces form a coherent set due to their decoration, technique, and subject: the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, or Chikurin shichiken in Japanese.

This theme, of Chinese origin, evokes a group of 3rd-century literati, poets, musicians, and thinkers, gathered in a bamboo grove away from the court. In Japanese art, it belongs to the repertoire of scholarly subjects of Chinese inspiration. It is particularly suitable for a set related to writing, the preservation of papers, and the preparation of ink.

The exterior decoration features the seven sages in a bamboo grove. The figures, rocks, and landscape details are rendered in gold maki-e on a brown nashiji ground. The decoration combines hiramaki-e, for the surface-drawn parts, and takamaki-e, for the reliefs. Iridescent aogai mother-of-pearl is used for details in the decoration, particularly in the bamboos. One of the sages holds a light mother-of-pearl paper leaf with an inscription, which may correspond to a signature.

The interiors are also decorated. The undersides of the lids feature gold lacquer landscapes, with pavilions, rocks, trees, and architecture. The bottom of the large box is adorned with bamboos; the bottom of the suzuribako also features a bamboo decoration, echoing the main theme.

The suzuribako retains its ink stone and a high-quality bronze suiteki. This water dropper, sculptural and quite unusual for a writing set, reinforces the scholarly and precious character of the ensemble.

The execution quality is high. The nashiji is dense, the reliefs are well-constructed, and the use of mother-of-pearl is masterful. The set combines the scholarly function of the boxes with refined decoration, nourished by classical Chinese culture and interpreted in the Japanese taste for grand decorative lacquerware.

Very good state of preservation. Each box retains its original tomobako with old inscription.

Bunko dimensions: 45 × 39 × 21 cm.
Suzuribako dimensions: 29 × 25.5 × 10 cm.