A Significant Japanese Coffer: A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Examining Late Sixteenth- — Early Seventeen-Century Export Urushi Ware

Abstract

A significant coffer in the Royal Swedish collection, inventory number HGK 406, is examined. The aim is to confirm or add new data concerning its age, provenance, and components of manufacture. The scientific analyses include microscopy of cross and thin sections, wood species identification, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X−ray fluorescence microscopy, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, strontium isotope ratio measurement, and radiocarbon dating. To a lesser degree, the investigation also includes excerpting and examining historical documents. The results show that the body wood is Thujopsis dolabrata BUN 1248, a strong indication for a Japanese origin of the coffer. The urushi coating is made with sap harvested in Japan from the species Toxicodendron vernicifluum. The decorations include gold powder, red iron oxide, and cinnabar pigments. Radiocarbon dating supports dating of the coffer, also based on its style, as late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. While all the results may not stand alone, the study shows that a methodology with a multidisciplinary approach can produce new knowledge, as well as support or reject hypotheses arrived at from other kinds of sources.