Doos c. 1800

This small, round box was crafted by Gyokuzan in Japan, sometime before 1812. Notice how the artist manipulated various materials to create contrasts in texture, colour and form. The overall structure is defined by an intricate geometric pattern in dark brown and shimmering silver, creating a sense of depth. Gyokuzan uses the lid’s surface to create a contrasting asymmetrical display. A mother-of-pearl inlay depicts a plum blossom design, its organic shapes and subtle iridescence standing out against the box's rigid structure. The flowers stretch from the centre across the circular boundary of the box, creating a dynamic interaction between the natural and artificial, the fluid and the fixed. Consider how this piece invites us to reflect on relationships between nature and artifice, simplicity and complexity. It demonstrates how beauty emerges not just from the subject portrayed but from the underlying structural dynamics of the artwork itself.