明萬曆 填漆戧金龍松紋盒|Octagonal box with “dragon pine”

Unknown

dated 1595 · Polychrome lacquer with filled-in and engraved gold decoration · Asian Art

The designer of this box transformed the pine tree into a fanciful dragon, symbol of the emperor. This combination probably expressed a wish that the emperor live as long as the pine, an emblem of longevity. The box was made with the same technique as the adjacent dragon dish, and they bear identical dated marks, which implies that they were made in the same imperial workshop, if not by the same hands.

Artist

Unknown

Date

dated 1595

Medium

Polychrome lacquer with filled-in and engraved gold decoration

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015