Untitled

Unknown

17th–18th century · Black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay and gold painting · Asian Art

The style of clothing worn by the three equestrian figures on the top of this box identifies them as Mongols, a people who ruled over their vast empire from a capital at Dadu (present-day Beijing) in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The representations of Mongols hunting and the decorative motifs on the sides of this box were once outlined with powdered gold that was sprinkled onto the lacquer base; such a technique was also used in China.

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th–18th century

Medium

Black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay and gold painting

Culture

Japan (Ryūkyū Islands)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015