A JAPANESE COPPER YATATE WITH HIDDEN CHRISTIAN CRUCIFIX, EDO PERIOD

the ink bowl of oval shape with hinged cover and false lining opening to reveal a crucifixion in repousse, the exterior decorated with a foliate spray, attached by a length of chain to the pen holder decorated with scrolls, the ink bowl circa 5cm., mounted in a framed box, 24cm wide Footnote: During the Edo Period, when Christianity was strictly banned under the Tokugawa Shogunate, Japanese 'Hidden Christians' cleverly used everyday objects to conceal religious symbols. A yatate—a highly portable, pipe-shaped Japanese writing kit containing a brush and an inkwell—was frequently modified or custom-built to hide a crucifixion scene or a cross insidethe ink bowl of oval shape with hinged cover and false lining opening to reveal a crucifixion in repousse, the exterior decorated with a foliate spray, attached by a length of chain to the pen holder decorated with scrolls, the ink bowl circa 5cm., mounted in a framed box, 24cm wide Footnote: During the Edo Period, when Christianity was strictly banned under the Tokugawa Shogunate, Japanese 'Hidden Christians' cleverly used everyday objects to conceal religious symbols. A yatate—a highly portable, pipe-shaped Japanese writing kit containing a brush and an inkwell—was frequently modified or custom-built to hide a crucifixion scene or a cross inside

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