Japan
Cabinet with shelves (kurodana) c. 1850 - 1869
Wood, black and gold lacquer | 71.0 x 78.0 x 38.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 26050
This stand was designed to display cosmetic boxes, including equipment for tooth blackening, which was a mark of feminine beauty until the late Edo period (1615–1868). The bamboo motifs are auspicious since the plant can endure the severest weather – its stalks bend in the wind but do not break.
