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The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is in the paulownia tree. Along with the dragon, the bird is a symbol of imperial power in East Asia. This box––a container for an inkstone, brushes, and ink––is both functional and lavish, its dramatic effects achieved with a pear-skin ground decoration (<em>nashiji</em>) and sprinkled powder decoration in high relief (<em>takamaki-e</em>).

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Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
6be27e2c39d14fb1
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
292932
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "292932",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (inkstone and water dropper)",
    "description": "The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is in the paulownia tree. Along with the dragon, the bird is a symbol of imperial power in East Asia. This box––a container for an inkstone, brushes, and ink––is both functional and lavish, its dramatic effects achieved with a pear-skin ground decoration (<em>nashiji</em>) and sprinkled powder decoration in high relief (<em>takamaki-e</em>).",
    "date": "c. 1573–99",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.34.c",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79871179"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Lacquer"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.34.c/2016.34.c_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.34.c/2016.34.c_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.34.c/2016.34.c_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "4 x 20.5 x 23.5 cm (1 9/16 x 8 1/16 x 9 1/4 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615)"
    ],
    "accession": "2016.34.c"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "292932",
    "label": "Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (inkstone and water dropper)",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "292932",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (inkstone and water dropper)",
    "description": "The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is in the paulownia tree. Along with the dragon, the bird is a symbol of imperial power in East Asia. This box––a container for an inkstone, brushes, and ink––is both functional and lavish, its dramatic effects achieved with a pear-skin ground decoration (<em>nashiji</em>) and sprinkled powder decoration in high relief (<em>takamaki-e</em>).",
    "date": "c. 1573–99",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.34.c",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79871179"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Lacquer"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.34.c/2016.34.c_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.34.c/2016.34.c_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.34.c/2016.34.c_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "4 x 20.5 x 23.5 cm (1 9/16 x 8 1/16 x 9 1/4 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615)"
    ],
    "accession": "2016.34.c"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold and silver powder (maki-e) and gold and silver foil application",
    "tombstone": "Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Phoenix in Paulownia (inkstone and water dropper), c. 1573–99. Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615). Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold and silver powder (maki-e) and gold and silver foil application; 4 x 20.5 x 23.5 cm (1 9/16 x 8 1/16 x 9 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 2016.34.c",
    "collection": "Japanese Art",
    "didYouKnow": "The only place the mythical phoenix will perch is the paulownia tree.",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "\"New in the Galleries.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em> 57, no. 1 (January/February 2017): Back cover.",
            "page_number": "Reproduced and Mentioned: Back cover",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/CMAMM2017-01/page/n13/mode/2up"
        },
        {
            "citation": "Vilbar, Sinéad. “Acquisition Highlights 2016: Japanese Art.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em> vol. 57, no. 2 (March/April 2017): 18–19.",
            "page_number": "Reproduced: pp. 5, 19; Mentioned: p. 19"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.34.c",
    "creditline": "Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 08:52:16.402000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.34.c/2016.34.c_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 292932,
    "dept": "Japanese Art",
    "coll": "Japanese Art",
    "med": "Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold and silver powder (maki-e) and gold and silver foil application",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
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