Suntory Museum of Art
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Notable Works
Drum-shaped saké container with sunken gold decoration

Notable Works

Lacquerware

Drum-shaped saké container with sunken gold decoration

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Number of components: 1
Dimensions (in cm): D. (body) 22.6, D. 8.6, H. 29.0
Date of production: Momoyama period Second half of the 16th century

This is a saké container in the shape of drum. The drum face is black lacquer with one face depicting grapes and squirrels executed in the chinkin technique of engraving fine lines on lacquer and filling them with gold powder. The other face features millet, quail, peonies and butterflies. The body is zelkova (keyaki) wood. Red lacquer has been applied to the zelkova followed by sukiuroshi transparent lacquer allowing the grain to show through. Judging by its size, this container was used to pour saké directly from the bottle into cups. Kamakura period picture scrolls indicate that large drum-shaped barrels were used to pour saké into decanters of a size that a person could carry. The softness of the squirrels and the quail feathers is expressed in the skillfully incised lines.

Notable Works

Drum-shaped saké container with sunken gold decoration

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART