Scattered lotus makie sutra box

This box, for storing sutras, is rectangular with rounded corners and two-tiered. Slight ridges and bulging of the shell can be seen. Gilded bronze openings run around the lid, the rim and bottom of the upper tier, and the rim of the lower tier. Traces of metal strings can be seen on the sides of the lower tier. Covered in cloth, the entire box is painted with black lacquer, and gold powder is sprinkled on the top, sides, and interior of the lid to create a matte finish, on which a scattered lotus pattern is applied. All of the maki-e (lacquerwork) is created using the togidashi maki-e technique, in which lacquer is applied on top and then polished with charcoal, with the lines of the flower veins expressed through drawing and dividing. The lotus petals are scattered in a very regular pattern on each side, with four petals arranged in a group in the center of the lid, and three-petal and one-petal arrangements arranged roughly symmetrically above and below and left and right around this. The patterns on the lid and garland are also roughly arranged in opposite directions, left and right, and front and back. The underside of the lid and the inside of the upper and lower sections are painted with a slightly sparser arrangement than the front of the lid, with some of the lotus petals twisted and sawtooth lines used for the veins, adding a moderate amount of variety to the design.The overall design is formalized, making this a sutra box that is clearly in the style of the Kamakura period.Heirloom of the Fujita family.