Japanese Yatate

This Japanese Yatate (矢立) consists of two main parts:

• • The Pipe (筒): This long, cylindrical section holds the writing brush. In this example, it’s made of bronze and decorated with green and white hard glass (often referred to as “enamel” in this context).
  • The Box (箱): The rectangular box attached to the pipe serves as the ink container.

About Yatates in General:

• Purpose: Yatates were essential tools for writing in pre-modern Japan. They were designed to be portable, allowing officials, scholars, and artists to write or sketch while traveling.
• Components: As mentioned, the two main parts are the pipe for the brush and the box for ink. The ink was typically a solid sumi ink stick that was ground with water on a small stone inside the box.

Dating this Yatate:

This yatate likely dates to the late Edo Period (1603-1868) or the Meiji Period (1868-1912) in Japan. Here’s the reasoning:

• Enamel Decoration: While enamel techniques were present in earlier periods, the use of colorful, inset hard glass (which is often loosely referred to as enamel in this context) became particularly popular in the late Edo and Meiji periods.
• Craftsmanship: The apparent quality of the bronze casting and the detailed decoration suggest a period of skilled metalworking.
• Style: The combination of naturalistic motifs (floral patterns) and the overall form aligns with decorative trends that spanned the late Edo and Meiji transition.