The restoration project of Hon’ami Kōetsu’s Writing Box with a Design of Woodcutter

The restoration project of Hon’ami Kōetsu’s Writing Box with a Design of Woodcutter

The writing box with a design of woodcutter in maki-e, attributed to Hon’ami Kōetsu, is a listed important cultural property in our collection. Due to the progressive metamorphosis taking place in the box’s decoration in lead, the Museum has launched a 4-year restoration project. In the first year, scientific investigations will be run to identify the metal composition and the substances causing the deterioration. Based on the results from these investigations, the project will formulate and implement the restoration method in the following years through experiments.

Restoration committee members:

The Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan; Atami City; National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo; lacquerware restoration experts; Mejiro Shitsugei Bunkazai Kenkyujo; and MOA Museum of Art

August 2, 2022
The 1st Committee meeting
at MOA Museum of Art

October 17-18, 2022
X-ray fluorescence (XRF: elemental and chemical analysis), X-ray diffraction (XRD: identification of compound), and digital microscopy, conducted by the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo.
at MOA Museum of Art

December 13, 2022
The 2nd Committee meeting
at the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo