Kajikawa (Japanese, 1652 - 1724)
Tea Caddy: Autumn Grasses, mid 18th century
Lacquered wood with gold togidashimaki-e on black lacquer ground , 7 x 6.8 cm (2 3/4 x 2 11/16 in.)
General admission for children 17 years and under is always free
This very small, cylinder-shaped lidded tea caddy is made of shiny lacquered wood. The surface is black and the designs are painted in gold. The designs consist of three types of grasses painted on the sides and up and over the top of the lid. One type of grass has daisy-like flowers. Another has simple sprays of leaves at the very top. A third has simple, narrow leaves and flowers that resemble goldenrod. Sprays and sprinkles of gold form the patch of soil below each set of grasses.
Little Salon
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.