Bullfinch and Blossoms Museum Desk Paperweight – Hokusai Japanese Art Glass Dome 3H

Museum Desk Paperweight with Hokusai’s Bullfinch and Blossoms

This museum desk paperweight features a bright bullfinch perched on a flowering branch, adapted from a design by Katsushika Hokusai. A rich blue background sets off the orange-red bird and pale blossoms, bringing a moment of spring to your desk or reading table.

The curved glass dome gently magnifies the bird’s feathers, the arching branch, and the soft gradations of color. This museum bird paperweight is both practical and poetic: it keeps papers in place while adding a calm, nature-inspired accent to your workspace.

Each paperweight arrives in an elegant presentation box with a sateen-style lining, ready for gift giving. It works well as a graduation present, corporate thank-you, or special surprise for anyone who loves Japanese art, birds, or garden motifs. As part of the Parastone Museum Gift Collection, it translates a historical design into a small collectible object you can enjoy every day.

• Glass dome museum desk paperweight with Hokusai bird and blossoms image under clear glass.
• Design inspired by kachō-e (bird-and-flower) prints in Japanese ukiyo-e art.
• Measures approx. 3 in W × 3 in L × 1.5 in H.
• Weighs about 0.9 lbs, ideal for daily desk use.
• Comes in an elegant presentation box with sateen lining.
• Part of the Parastone Museum Gift Collection. PN PHOK2.

Hokusai, Ukiyo-e, and Birds-and-Flowers Imagery

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) is best known for his dramatic landscapes, yet he also created many designs featuring birds and flowers. These works belong to the Japanese kachō-e tradition, where nature becomes a subject for quiet contemplation.

Hokusai trained in woodblock design as a young man and worked within the busy ukiyo-e world of Edo-period Japan. Over several decades he experimented with composition and line, creating images that feel both decorative and deeply observant. In scenes like this bullfinch and blossoms, he balances empty space, curved branches, and bright color to create a tranquil mood.

On this museum glass paperweight, the glass dome adds depth to the little bird and its flowering perch. The blue ground feels almost like evening sky, while the orange-red breast and soft petals glow beneath the dome. The result is a small window into Hokusai’s nature studies, ready to rest beside your books and papers.

Decorating with a Bullfinch and Blossoms Museum Desk Paperweight

This Japanese desk paperweight works beautifully on desks, bedside tables, and small display shelves. Place it next to a favorite poetry book, a simple ceramic vase, or a small plant to echo its garden theme. The compact size makes it easy to tuck into a reading nook or home office.

You can also pair it with other Hokusai-inspired gifts to create a Japanese art vignette. Explore more pieces in our Hokusai collection: Hokusai Japanese Art Collection . Together, several items can transform a shelf into a mini gallery of ukiyo-e–inspired design.

As a gift, this paperweight suits bird lovers, gardeners, museum fans, and anyone who enjoys peaceful nature imagery. It offers a gentle, artful touch that can brighten a workspace without taking much room.

For More Reading from the Web

To learn more about kachō-e (bird-and-flower) prints and their place in Japanese art, this resource provides helpful background:

• Transmission and Kachō-e: Birds, Flowers, and Tradition