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Object Timeline

1925	Work on this object ended.
1976	We acquired this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2018	We photographed this object.
2019	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Stencil, Dragons in Clouds

This is a Stencil. It is dated early 20th century and we acquired it in 1976. Its medium is mulberry paper (kozo washi) treated with fermented persimmon tannin (kakishibu), and silk threads (itoire). It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This object was donated by Helen Snyder. It is credited Gift of Helen Snyder.

An elaborately decorated black enamel vanity case with rounded corners and an oblong shape, featuring a finely crafted inlaid panel made with gold, platinum, diamonds, malachite, ruby and carved coral depicting a dragon and mountains motif on an etched mother of pearl background. The dragon has a sinuous s-shaped body with a tight black scales, and articulated claws and a squared face made from inlaid pieces of red coral accented in gold. A gold spine follows the contours of the tail as it wraps around the tallest of three vertical malachite “mountains,” set against a backdrop of swirling, etched mother of pearl pieces resembling clouds. A 'pearl', amde from a cabochon ruby near the top of the panel has attenuated gold rays leading to the top of the panel and is in the eye line of the dragon. The inner panel is framed by four L-shaped corners featuring an equal number of round, pave diamonds, accented by four small wave-shaped enamel incursions with swirling gold accents. Decorations at either end of the vanity feature an oblong group of cabochon coral “beads” surrounding a black enamel center. on the long side, a clasp with a narrow strip of coral and a row of pave diamonds rests on a platinum strip with a wavy mother of pearl inset on the right, and lacquer corner with a single inset diamond on the left.

Vanity Case, Dragon and the Pearl
gold, malachite, mother-of-pearl, cabochon ruby, diamonds, enamel, carved....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.11

Its dimensions are

49 × 89 cm (19 5/16 × 35 1/16 in.) Mat: 71 × 91.3 cm (27 15/16 × 35 15/16 in.)

Cite this object as

Stencil, Dragons in Clouds; Japan; mulberry paper (kozo washi) treated with fermented persimmon tannin (kakishibu), and silk threads (itoire); 49 × 89 cm (19 5/16 × 35 1/16 in.) Mat: 71 × 91.3 cm (27 15/16 × 35 15/16 in.); Gift of Helen Snyder; 1976-103-277

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Katagami.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2CLrD/
Accession Number 1976-103-277
Object ID 18490031