Description
Vintage suzuribako
(writing box)
calligraphy set featuring; carved inkstone, ink stick, ceramic water vessel,
brass dipper and two brushes all in a sturdy, velvet-lined and fabric-covered
wooden box. Quality touches include a detailed bird image carved into the
inkstone and a specially shaped brass dipper designed to rest within the water
basin between uses. This small (please see size information below)
calligraphy set is in fine condition though there are some water marks on the
stone, and the wood which makes up the lid is
slightly warped. This high quality calligraphy set is approximately 20
years old and may have been produced in China. There is writing on the
front of the box though we are unable to make out the meaning (this is the
reason we suspect the kit may be from China). Please note that we also
offer a
larger
version of this same kit which includes additional materials for
stamping! Please read below to
learn more about calligraphy in Japan.
Important note: Due to the age of this kit we cannot guarantee the working
condition of the calligraphy ink stick and new ink may need to be purchased if
the kit is intended for actual use.
Size of box:
Height: 1.2 inches (3.0 centimeters)
Length: 6.6 inches (17.0 centimeters)
Width: 3.7 inches (9.5 centimeters)
Weight of entire set: 8.1 ounces (230 grams)
Size of tools:
Length of brushes: 5.1 inches (13.0 centimeters)
Length of ink stone: 2.7 inches (7.0 centimeters)
Width of ink stone: 1.9 inches (4.8 centimeters)
Click
here
to see other calligraphy items!
Click
here
to see additional treasures from Japan!
More about Japanese Calligraphy
Good penmanship as well as talent with a writing brush were skills more
valued in the past, before typewriters, word processors and email largely
removed the visual element of style from our writing. Brush and ink were
the most common writing tools in Asia before the start of the 20th century, and
a writer's artistry was to a large extent measured as much by the beauty of the
characters he created as the meaning they were meant to communicate. The
most basic tools of calligraphy include a brush (fude in Japanese),
inkstone (suzuri), ink stick (sumi) and water dropper (suiteki).
Additional tools exist though these are the most essential. During the
late Heian period (794-1185) the standard writing box (suzuribako)
was introduced into Japan from China where it became an essential tool of
Japanese business and domestic life. Writing boxes typically contain all
of the tools listed above plus others, and in the past were produced in many
forms including simple utilitarian models for shopkeepers, elegant versions for
display in the home and even portable kits one could easily carry on their
person. Though few modern Japanese ever use a brush and ink outside a
classroom, as a culture they nevertheless continue to appreciate the beauty and
artistry of writing produced by a talented calligrapher.
More photos below!
product code: MIN-0000301 (calligmono)
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