Footed Chest (Karabitsu) with Phoenix Roundels

Karabitsu is a term for storage boxes, especially ones with legs that raise the base above the floor. On top of the lid, and on the body and legs of this box, we can see Chinese phoenixes rendered with thick pieces of turban shell using a decorative technique called raden. For this technique, the inside layers of the shells were removed, cut into the desired shapes, and inlaid into lacquer. The wings of each phoenix are spread, with the tail feathers curving to form a circle. The empty, lacquered areas within the phoenix motifs are embellished with gold powder, creating the subtle effect of these mythical birds appearing to float above the surface.

These bold phoenix motifs seem to emit an elegant glow that combines with the lustrous black lacquer to provide a glimpse of the sophisticated aesthetic tastes of the Heian period. As an aside, this phoenix motif is familiar to many Japanese today as it is used for the logo of the Kabuki theater in Tōkyō’s Ginza district. A karabitsu is a storage chest with legs that raise its base above the floor. This example is finished with black lacquer and decorated with scattered phoenix roundels in mother-of-pearl inlay. The striking contrast between the deep black lacquer and the luminous white shell is one of its most distinctive features.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.