Inkstone storage box suzuribako

• Alma Karlin's Collection (CRM)
• Celje Regional Museum

A suzuribako 硯箱 box, which takes its name from the ink stone (suzuri 硯) stored in it. In addition to the ink stone, the suzuribako usually held other calligraphy tools, such as a type of Japanese ink (sumi 墨), prepared in solid sticks, an ink container (sumibasami 墨挾), a pipette for water (suiteki 水滴), a brush, a small useful knife (tōsu 刀子), and an awl (kiri 錐). The lid of the suzuribako box is decorated with a motif of golden fans. Fans can signify wealth and high social status and symbolise the journey of life. They are usually painted in odd numbers as this is said to bring good luck. Gold-coloured fans are said to bring wealth. The technique used is an imitation of the nashiji (梨地) technique, one of the forms of the maki-e (蒔絵) technique often used for the background of patterns and which flourished in the Muromachi period (1338–1573). (KH)

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