Picnic set of lacquered wood (detail of top)

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Picnic set made of lacquered wood with two base silver sake bottles. Designs of the 24 stories Confucious stories of filial piety in hiramakie and takamakie. The Japanese friends and family still take picnics under the cherry blossom in the Spring.

This picnic set has an enamel handle, probably made in the 19th century to replace the original. The design on the top uses hiramakie for figures and takamakie for the building, with coral and mother of pearl inlay to represent cherry and plum blossom.

The picnic set was bought with eleven other Japanese objects at the Philadelphia Exhibition in 1876 by Thomas Archer, director of this museum from 1860-1885 who helped set up the above.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-268-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1877.5.1 Y
• Date: 18th century
  
• Material: Cabinet, luncheon / piece / lid
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Cabinet, luncheon / piece / lid
  
• Subject: Lacquer and wood / boxes, trays
  
• Who:
• Where: Japan
  
• Event:
• Description: Piece or lid contained in a luncheon cabinet: Japan
  
• References:
  • Wilkinson, J. & Pearce, N. Harmony and contrast, A journey through East Asian art. NMS 1996. P25 
• Translations:
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