‘Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer from the Mike Healy Collection’, Julia White, Honolulu Academy of Art, 2006, p. 28-29
This elegant box consists of an intricate design of ten foliated sections, encompassing thirty lobed sections. The flat top of the box has a gold-washed metal ring at the centre, with further gold-washed and metal rings radiating towards the lotus-petal rim. The vertical bands of metal around the sides of the top as well as the cover further emphasise the simple, yet elegant shape of this toiletry box.
Luxurious boxes of this type were probably used by high-ranking court ladies. Some of these boxes would have been fitted with an interior tray to hold cosmetics, combs, etc. A link between these lacquer shapes, Song ceramics and metal wares has previously been discussed, yet similar shapes with metal banding are not seen until the Yuan period.[1]
Compare a identical box from the Florence and Herbert Irving Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 2015.500.1.21a–c.
Reference:
[1] Hin-cheung Lovell, ‘Sung and Yuan Monochrome Lacquers in the Freer Gallery’, Ars Orientalis, no.9 (1973), p. 121-30
A lobed dark brown lacquer toiletry box with lotus-petal rim (Yuan dynasty, late 13th/14th century)
Description
Dimensions: 17.8cm high, 22cm diameter
Provenance:
Michael H. Healy
Anthony Carter, 2015
A private Asian collection
Exhibited:
Honolulu Academy of Art, 2002
China Institute of America, New York, 2005
Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 2006
Museum für Lackkunst, Münster, 2007
Illustrated:
‘Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer from the Mike Healy Collection’, Julia White, Honolulu Academy of Art, 2006, p. 28-29
This elegant box consists of an intricate design of ten foliated sections, encompassing thirty lobed sections. The flat top of the box has a gold-washed metal ring at the centre, with further gold-washed and metal rings radiating towards the lotus-petal rim. The vertical bands of metal around the sides of the top as well as the cover further emphasise the simple, yet elegant shape of this toiletry box.
Luxurious boxes of this type were probably used by high-ranking court ladies. Some of these boxes would have been fitted with an interior tray to hold cosmetics, combs, etc. A link between these lacquer shapes, Song ceramics and metal wares has previously been discussed, yet similar shapes with metal banding are not seen until the Yuan period.[1]
Compare a identical box from the Florence and Herbert Irving Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 2015.500.1.21a–c.
Reference:
[1] Hin-cheung Lovell, ‘Sung and Yuan Monochrome Lacquers in the Freer Gallery’, Ars Orientalis, no.9 (1973), p. 121-30
Information
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