Sujet
Round Box with Decoration of Two Pheasants and Peonies, late 1200s. Creator: Unknown.
Légende
Round Box with Decoration of Two Pheasants and Peonies, late 1200s. This box is among the extremely rare and precious carved lacquer ware from the Song and early Yuan period and is arguably one of the most monumental and significant examples of the type. It exhibits extremely fine craftsmanship. To allow for the depth of carving, numerous layers of different coloured lacquer were applied to a core of wood strengthened by a fabric covering impregnated with lacquer. Each layer was allowed to set before the next was applied, taking a long time to construct the lacquered body before the carving could begin. Carved on top with two birds in flight against a floral ground and a band of spiral scrolls, it is a bold manifestation of the naturalistic and abstract approaches to carved lacquer decoration. The lively depiction of the subjects combined with the sinuous scrolls expresses the flux and freedom of nature. Lacquer ware was always a valuable product in Chinese material culture and was often used as precious gifts in diplomatic, religious, and economic exchanges with other countries?Japan, for example, where this box was long preserved and acquired.
Crédit
Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art
Notre référence
HRM19G02_241
Model release
NA
Property release
NA
Licence
Droits gérés
Format disponible
60,4Mo (4,5Mo) / 42,0cm x 36,0cm / 4965 x 4254 (300dpi)