‘Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer from the Mike Healy Collection’, Julia White, Honolulu Academy of Art, 2006, p. 52-53
The octagonal shaped plate exquisitely carved with a naturalistically executed border of seasonal flowers, around a central scene of paired birds amidst rocks and trees. The band of red lacquer flowers is deeply carved to reveal an unusual yellow lacquer background. The central scene of two birds on a rock and tree branch, surrounded by bamboo and maple is set on a ‘air diaper’ pattern, adding depth to the plate. The base of the plate is inscribed with the characters ‘Zhang Cheng’, one of the most famous lacquer carvers of the Yuan period from Yanghui in Xietang, Zhejiang Province.
Compare a plate featuring two birds among flowers and leaves with the same detailed characteristics and quality of carving, also marked ‘Zhang Cheng’ from the Irving Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number 2011.120.1.
An extremely rare and important octagonal lacquer ‘bird’ plate with ‘Zhang Cheng’ maker’s mark (Yuan dynasty, 14th century)
Description
Dimensions: 30.5cm diameter
Provenance:
A private Japanese collection
Michael H. Healy, acquired in the 1990s
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. 52-53
The octagonal shaped plate exquisitely carved with a naturalistically executed border of seasonal flowers, around a central scene of paired birds amidst rocks and trees. The band of red lacquer flowers is deeply carved to reveal an unusual yellow lacquer background. The central scene of two birds on a rock and tree branch, surrounded by bamboo and maple is set on a ‘air diaper’ pattern, adding depth to the plate. The base of the plate is inscribed with the characters ‘Zhang Cheng’, one of the most famous lacquer carvers of the Yuan period from Yanghui in Xietang, Zhejiang Province.
Compare a plate featuring two birds among flowers and leaves with the same detailed characteristics and quality of carving, also marked ‘Zhang Cheng’ from the Irving Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number 2011.120.1.
Information
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