‘Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer from the Mike Healy Collection’, Julia White, Honolulu Academy of Art, 2006, p. 30-31
The box and cover are carved with twelve flower lobes, the exterior of the body covered in a dark, mottled brown lacquer with pewter trim. The interior and base of the box lacquered red. A shallow oval red and dark brown lacquer tray which may have contained cosmetics and other adornments fits into the base of the box.
The elegant shape of this box is typical of the emphasis on pure form and simplicity in early Chinese lacquers, produced for the upper classes and imperial court in the Song and Yuan dynasty. The shape is derived from ceramics wares of the period, which again may have been influenced by contemporary metalwork.[1] The binding of the box with a protective pewter rim is very similar to the technique used on Ding ware ceramics of the Song dynasty, used to protect the unglazed rims against wear.[2]
Compare a very similar box from the Florence and Herbert Irving Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 2019.193.4a–c.
References:
[1] Hin-cheung Lovell, ‘Sung and Yuan Monochrome Lacquers in the Freer Gallery’, Ars Orientalis, no.9 (1973), p. 121-30
[2] Julia M. White, ‘Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer from the Mike Healy Collection’, Honolulu Academy of Arts, 2002, p. 30
An oval dark brown lacquer box and cover (Northern Song dynasty, 960-1127)
Description
Dimensions: 10cm high, 15cm wide, 36.8cm long
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. 30-31
The box and cover are carved with twelve flower lobes, the exterior of the body covered in a dark, mottled brown lacquer with pewter trim. The interior and base of the box lacquered red. A shallow oval red and dark brown lacquer tray which may have contained cosmetics and other adornments fits into the base of the box.
The elegant shape of this box is typical of the emphasis on pure form and simplicity in early Chinese lacquers, produced for the upper classes and imperial court in the Song and Yuan dynasty. The shape is derived from ceramics wares of the period, which again may have been influenced by contemporary metalwork.[1] The binding of the box with a protective pewter rim is very similar to the technique used on Ding ware ceramics of the Song dynasty, used to protect the unglazed rims against wear.[2]
Compare a very similar box from the Florence and Herbert Irving Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 2019.193.4a–c.
References:
[1] Hin-cheung Lovell, ‘Sung and Yuan Monochrome Lacquers in the Freer Gallery’, Ars Orientalis, no.9 (1973), p. 121-30
[2] Julia M. White, ‘Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquer from the Mike Healy Collection’, Honolulu Academy of Arts, 2002, p. 30
Information
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