Chinese Lacquerware
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Lobed Tray with a Dragon among Surging Waves
China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi era (1662–1722)Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 9
March 24, 2026 (Tue) - June 21, 2026 (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 it 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 (ca. 10,000–2100 BC). Over the millennia, a number of decorative techniques evolved in China, including lacquer relief carving and lacquer with incised lines filled with gold leaf. Chinese lacquerware frequently feature abstract spiral patterns (called “pommel scrolls”) or pictorial scenes of landscapes, flowers, birds, pavilions, and people.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Boxes | China | Western Han dynasty, 2nd–1st century BC | TJ-5666 | |||
| Highlight | Lobed Tray with a Dragon among Surging Waves | China | Qing dynasty, Kangxi era (1662–1722) | TH-524 |