36 Immortal Poet Shells (Sanju Roku Kasengai)

CultureJapanese
Titles
  • 36 Immortal Poet Shells (Sanju Roku Kasengai)
Date17th century
MediumShells, gold and mineral pigments, lacquer, sumi ink, paper, and wood
DimensionsStorage box (Inner Box .A): 3 3/8 × 10 3/4 × 9 in. (8.6 × 27.3 × 22.9 cm)
Storage box (Middle Box .B): 5 5/8 × 12 1/4 × 10 5/8 in. (14.3 × 31.1 × 27 cm)
Storage box (Outer Box .C): 8 1/4 × 12 × 13 1/2 in. (21 × 30.5 × 34.3 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Elizabeth S. and Marjorie G. Horning Asian Art Accessions Endowment
Object number2020.134.1-.36
Not on view

Explore Further

Department
Asian Art
ProvenanceCreated late-17th century; Mori Clan, Aki Province [1]; Private Japanese collection, 20th century; [Mika Gallery, Tokyo, 2018]; purchased by MFAH, 2020.

[1] Based on clan seal on the exterior of the historic box.

Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Each of the 36 packets are inscribed with a label and two corresponding poems. Inscriptions will take further research to confirm, transcribe, and translate.
NA

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Calligraphy with Iris and Stream
Nakamura Hochu
18th century
Mineral pigments and ink on paper, mounted as hanging scroll (kakejiku)
2019.261
Museum Wormianum
Ole Worm
1655, first/sole edition
Book, bound in sheepskin
BF.2016.4
Wedgwoodn’t Garniture
Michael Eden
2012
Nylon, white mineral, and patinated copper
2014.679.1-.3
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. The Aldine Edition of the British Poets.
Thomas Gray
1853
Set of five books, bound in red morocco with marblized paper-covered boards and gold tooling to the spine
B.2011.16.1-.5
Shell Cup with Four Faces
650–900 AD
Albite (feldspar mineral) with purple mussel shell inlay
2001.1164
Museum Museorum (Museum of Museums), vol. I
Michael Bernhard Valentini
1714, second edition (first complete edition)
Book, bound in vellum over boards
BF.2016.2
Historia Naturale di Ferrante Imperato Napolitano
Ferrante Imperato
1672, second edition
Book
BF.2016.1
The Oxbow, Flooded, at the End of the Day
Stephen Hannock
1996
Acrylic and acrylic gel medium, oil, and alkaline pigments on canvas
96.1717
Lizard
Anchor Barrbuwa Wurrkidj
c. 1956–1960
Natural pigments on eucalyptus bark
62.26
"Nezach" Brooch
Ruudt Peters
2006
Silver and mineral
2009.1655
"Pants" Brooch
Melanie Bilenker
2011
Wood, paper, hair, gold, brass, and mineral crystal
2011.608.A,.B
Young Girl with a German Shepherd
Eikō Ikeda
1934
Two-panel screen with ink, mineral, metallic, and oil colors, and gofun on silk
2019.25