Purple Hedge Maki-e Inkstone Box, Important Cultural Property

Once Tokugawa Ieyasu had established his government center in Edo (Tokyo), urushi (lacquer) artisans began flocking there in search of opportunities to ply their trade. The best among them were selected for employment, many in Edo Castle, making furnishings and other items. The Tokugawa clan, and many other daimyo families, began ordering maki-e lacquerwares, often luxury items that symbolized their power and wealth. During the reign of third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, many prominent Edo Makie-shi, like Koma Kyui (? – 1681) and others from the Yamada school, were employed as official lacquer artisans crafting items like pill cases (inro) and sword scabbards.