Box
Artist
Maker unknown
(Japanese)
Date19th Century
MediumCarved ivory
DimensionsOverall: 1 7/8 × 1 5/8 × 2 1/4in. (4.8 × 4.1 × 5.7cm)
ClassificationsCONTAINERS
Credit LineProctor Collection
Terms
Object numberPC. 742.6
DescriptionIvory carved box; depicts a few dozen relief carved turtles climbing around a stump.On View
Not on viewCollections
Copyright<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/80x15.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.
Label TextMeanings derived from a turtle/tortoise motif are complex in Japanese culture. Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism all contribute understanding. These traditions claim that the tortoise helps prop up the world, guards the northern quadrant of the universe with the snake, and carries on its carapace sacred inscriptions. Primarily the tortoise is a symbol of longevity, and is depicted on many everyday objects in Japanese culture, such as this object.
