元 黑漆嵌螺鈿人物故事圖九方盤|Tray with figures in a landscape
Unknown
14th century · Black lacquer with inlaid mother-of-pearl · Asian Art
The two gentlemen on horseback and their attendants are presumably traveling to join the four figures drinking beneath the pine tree at top. The crane standing near the attendants serving wine and the deer resting at right are symbols of immortality. They add an otherworldly element to the scene, which represents either a paradisiacal realm or the retirement villa of a senior official equipped with the trappings of such a magical environment.
- Artist
- Unknown
- Date
- 14th century
- Medium
- Black lacquer with inlaid mother-of-pearl
- Culture
- China
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit line
- Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
