Covered Basket with Design of Bush Clover and Deer 1667 - 1699

Editor: This is a rather unassuming Covered Basket with Design of Bush Clover and Deer. It dates back to the late 17th century and was crafted by Hon'ami Kōetsu. It is made of wood and textile. It gives a somewhat understated but intriguing feeling. What symbolism do you think is at play? Curator: The images carry strong cultural associations. Bush clover, or *hagi*, traditionally evokes autumn in Japanese art. Deer, *shika*, often accompany *hagi* as they are believed to attract one another, embodying loneliness and the transient beauty of life. In this composition, notice the visual echo of deer antlers mimicked in the bent *hagi* branches. What does this resonance suggest to you? Editor: That the artist is drawing a parallel between nature and animals and their interwoven fates and existence? Is there perhaps a meditation on human fate being made as well? Curator: Precisely. By connecting the visual form of plant and animal, the artisan touches on a larger reflection about our place within, and dependence upon, the natural world. Both deer and bush clover motifs appear in classical literature of the time. What does that imply for its viewers then? Editor: It almost acts as a cultural signpost – a shared understanding between the artist and the person experiencing the art. You’d need to understand the cultural memory of those symbols to feel the full weight. Curator: Indeed, and Kōetsu was deliberate about visual memory. We now understand that the symbols can change over time, yet memory is persistent. It makes this object more compelling when we consider it a part of cultural continuity. Editor: This really transforms how I initially saw the basket! It's more than a pretty box, it's an intentional repository of meaning! Curator: And the beauty of cultural artifacts is the journey to uncover them!