Cosmetics box, Shirayama Shosai, 1890 - 1900
wood (plant material), h 16.7cm × w 15.7cm × d 31.3cm More details
Shirayama Shosai was a celebrated lacquer artist active around 1900 and known for his absolute mastery of lacquer techniques. For this box he used many tones of gold and silver to represent, for example, the subtle shades of the lotus leaves. The lotus is a symbol of purity and thus appropriate as a base for the Buddhist deity on the lid.
