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Lidded box

Lidded box

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1400-1450 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Lacquered wood, carved

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Sir Harry and Lady Garner

  • Museum number:

    FE.24 to B-1974

  • Gallery location:

    China, room 44, case STORE

  • Download image

Lacquer is a waterproof varnish made from the sap of the tree Rhus vernicifera. The Chinese began to use it to provide a protective coating to wooden and bamboo bowls at least 3,000 years ago. Very quickly the artisans realised the decorative potentials of this material. Multiple layers of lacquer were piled on the surface of the vessel and decorative patterns were carved on the lacquer. In this example a peony is shown on the lid.

Physical description

Red lacquer box and cover, cylindrical, carved with a single tree peony spray on the top with the flowers of the four seasons on the side. The side of the base decorated with a cloud scroll.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

ca. 1400-1450 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Lacquered wood, carved

Marks and inscriptions

Carved and gilt mark of Xuande on the black lacquered base

Dimensions

Diameter: 15 cm

Descriptive line

Box and lid, carved red lacquer, China, Ming dynasty, 1400-1500

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

China Cultuur Vroeger En Nu, Exhibition catalogue. Gent: Stadsbestuur, 1979. p. 145, no. 231.
taken from Register

Exhibition History

Centrum voor Kunst en Cultuur (Ghent: Centrum voor Kunst en Cultuur 01/01/1979-31/12/1980)
Chinese and Associated Lacquer from the Garner Collection (British Museum 02/10/1974-02/12/1974)
The World of lacquer 2000 years of history (Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon 01/06/2001-31/12/2003)

Labels and date

Box with peony design
Ming dynasty
1400-1500

The peony, one the 'flowers of the four seasons', is the symbol of spring. It has traditionally been associated with royalty as emperors from the Sui and Tang dynasties used to grow peonies in their gardens.

Carved lacquer on wood
Xuande mark on the base

Sir Harry Garner Gift
Museum no. FE.24-1974 [2009]

Production Note

The two parts of the box, although contemporary, originally belonged to different boxes, the lower part belonging to a box decorated with dragons.

Materials

Lacquer

Techniques

Carved

Subjects depicted

Peony; Cloud

Categories

Lacquerware

Collection code

FEC

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Qr_O75999
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