Box in the Shape of Interlocking Diamonds with Children at PlayLacquer inlay with gold
China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong era (1736–95)
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 9
September 7, 2021 (Tue) - December 5, 2021 (Sun)
Lacquer is the sap of the lacquer tree, which grows in East and Southeast Asia. Naturally sticky, it can be brushed onto different materials, and hardens into a durable coating that is waterproof and resistant to acids, alkalis, and heat.
The history of lacquerware in China dates back to the Neolithic period. Over the past 7,000 years, a number of ornate decorative techniques have grown out of Chinese innovations, including: built-up layers of lacquer that are then carved, mother-of-pearl inlay, incised lines of gold, and a special type of decorative inlay made up of different colors of lacquer and outlined in incised lines.
Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
Highlight | Brush Handle with a Figure under a Tree, Carved red lacquer | China | Ming dynasty, 16th century | Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige, TH-337 | |||
Highlight | Box in the Shape of Interlocking Diamonds with Children at Play, Lacquer inlay with gold | China | Qing dynasty, Qianlong era (1736–95) | TH-35 |