Tray
1573-1619 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This lacquer tray was decorated with a landscape scene made out of tiny pieces of mother-of-pearl. These were painstakingly applied on the surface, giving an iridescent quality to the decoration. Due to its fragility, this tray was more a decorative than a functional item.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Lacquered wood inlaid with mother of pearl. |
Brief description | Lacquered wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl Ming dynasty lacquer and mother of pearl tray, reign of Wanli (1573-1619). |
Physical description | A rectangular tray set on low feet, with indented corners.Ground lacquer is brownish-black. Underside of rim is decorated in mother-of-pearl with floral scrollings, upperside of rim with a simple diaper broken by 6 cartouches showing birds and plants. The main scene is of a figure on horseback in a mountainous landscape. One servant holds an umbrella over his head, another follows with a bundle. The scene may represent the successful examination candidate returning home in triumph. MARK: On the underside is a square plaquer of shell with the inscription, 'Da Ming Wanli Nian Zhi' BOX: Japanese fitted wood box COMPARISONS: ''Chugoku no raden'', Tokyo National Museum(1981), nos 75-82 in particular ''Drache und phoenix'' Sammlung Family Lee (Cologne, 1990) nos 94-97 DISCUSSION: The only reign-marked piece of lacquer in this style. The other published 'Wanli' piece (BMFEA, 24 1952 pl.37)is of a different type. Together with FE.20-1982, dated 1537, a major benchmark for the typological sequence.(Craig Clunas 29/8/90) |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | 'da ming wanli nian zhi' on base |
Credit line | Brian Morgan Gift |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This lacquer tray was decorated with a landscape scene made out of tiny pieces of mother-of-pearl. These were painstakingly applied on the surface, giving an iridescent quality to the decoration. Due to its fragility, this tray was more a decorative than a functional item. |
Bibliographic reference | Publised: From Innovation to conformity. ''Chinese Lacquer from the 13th to 16th centuries'' Bluett and Sons (June 1989) |
Collection | |
Accession number | FE.17-1990 |
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Record created | July 6, 2000 |
Record URL |
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