Edo period, 18th century
Dry lacquer technique, kanshitsu
23 x 22 x 35 cm
Kiri wood storage box
A servant in an aristocratic household sleeps blissfully, his shoulders hunched over, his knees drawn up to his chest, and his head resting on his hands. It is an image of total serenity, while the size of the figure and its solidity achieves great presence. The bare, crossed, feet are a powerful element in the design which, in true Japanese form, carries on in great detail on the unseen, underside of the work. The court hat is removable, giving access to a large interior storage space.
The use of the piece would have been as a storage jar for leaf tea – sencha. 18th century Japan saw a resurgence of interest within literati circles for all things Chinese. Whereas the Tea Ceremony, chanoyu, based around powdered tea, matcha, was brought from Song dynasty China in the 13th century, the ritual for steeped leaf tea, senchado. originated in Ming dynasty China. It was promoted in Japan by Kyoto monk Baisao, 1675-1763, of the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism, and seen as a welcome simple alternative to the rigid formality of chanoyu, and being more representative of the admired carefree attitude of the ancient Chinese sages.
The technique of this work’s creation – dry lacquer – is a demanding process introduced from China around the 8th century. A sculpted core of clay forms a base over which lacquer-soaked hemp cloth is layered – taking the form of the sculpture. When set, the core can be chiselled out to leave the thin reinforced lacquer skin, presenting a lightweight, hollow form, on which surface details would be modelled using a paste of lacquer, flour and wood-powder, kokuso-urushi. (For an insightful record of the process see YouTube)
The origins of this unique piece can only be speculative, but its quality and playful allusions to court practices would suggest that it may have been commissioned by a group of literati friends to serve as a constant reminder that true enlightenment comes from simple pleasures, as the dreaming court servant epitomises.