By Jeffrey (Yijie) Han
Visiting The Met, amidst the vast array of glamorous and grand creations by human hands, one small box stood out and captivated my attention. The Box for Personal Accessories (Tebako) with Shells and Seaweed Design from the Edo period is a masterclass in delicate craftsmanship. While I cannot speak to its historical background due to my limited knowledge, the object itself is a stunning display of artistry.
The dark black lacquer of the background is like the deep sea – an endless void. Yet, as light touches its surface, the lacquer’s ability to both absorb and reflect transforms it into something luminous, evoking the shimmering depths of water. The golden shells and seaweed design sprawls across this black expanse, rendered with such fluidity that it seems alive, moving as though caught in the gentle sway of an underwater current. The seaweed leaves stretch outward, flowing as they would beneath the waves, while the seashells rest firmly amidst the scene. Together, they create a dreamlike underwater tableau, an intricate balance of stillness and motion. The interplay between the glossy lacquer and the gold embellishments is mesmerizing, conjuring the illusion of light filtering through water.
This box, once an everyday object, now holds a timeless allure. I can only imagine how breathtaking it must look when illuminated by natural, indirect light, like the soft glow of a single candle casting its gentle halo in a quiet chamber. It brings to mind Jun'ichirō Tanizaki’s essay “In Praise of Shadows,” where the subtle interplay of light and shadow creates a quiet, profound beauty.
The exquisite craftsmanship transforms this simple container into a portal to Princess Otohime’s heavenly palace. Each opening and closing of the box feels like stepping into Urashima Tarō’s story, where the passage of time reveals itself with startling clarity. Standing before this tebako, I am reminded of that same tension between the eternal and the ephemeral. Yet, in its quiet elegance, the tebako captures both the fragility and the permanence of beauty, standing as an object that transcends time. It is, truly, a timeless beauty.
Jeffrey Han is the Secretary of the Art Committee. Jeffrey is a fourth-year Art History and East Asian studies student. Jeffrey's favorite art form is pottery having his own ceramic business potforcat.
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