Chinese-style Paulownia Chests with a Design of Phoenixes and Karakusa in Makie Lacquer (Kiri hoomon makie karabitsu and Kiri karakusamon makie karabitsu)
These extremely decorative chests were used to store Hideyoshi’s (1537–1598) personal effects, and they clearly display his extravagant artistic preferences. The decoration is an example of the technique known as hira makie (also called Kodaiji makie), in which gold and silver powder is sprinkled over and embedded in black lacquer. Footed chests are called karabitsu in Japanese, meaning “Chinese-style chest,” and are distinguished from those without feet, which sit flush on the ground.
The design of phoenixes and paulownia is an auspicious pairing related to a belief that phoenixes who consume paulownia fruit will appear when a leader emerges who will unite the realm. This motif is particularly fitting for Hideyoshi, whose family crest featured an image of a paulownia. These two chests, and a third companion chest in the collection of Kyoto National Museum, have been designated Important Cultural Properties. The contents formerly kept in these chests are listed in a catalog and provide us with a good sense of the objects Hideyoshi used in everyday life. The chest with the scrolling floral design known as karakusamon is thought to have been used by Hideyoshi himself.