Untitled

Unknown

15th century · Carved red lacquer · Asian Art

This elegant box features beautifully carved narcissi with blooming flowers and swaying leaves. The complex layering of forms matches the style of Chinese lacquers and jades dating to the early Ming period. An almost identical box, now in the Nezu Museum, Tokyo, however, bears an inscription by the Japanese lacquer artist Yōzei stating he was imitating the work of the Chinese fourteenth-century master Zhang Cheng. Whether this piece proves to be a Chinese original or an unsigned Japanese copy, the extraordinary carving distinguishes the box as an excellent example of cultural exchange between China and Japan during the fifteenth century.

Artist

Unknown

Date

15th century

Medium

Carved red lacquer

Culture

China or Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2020