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Chest for Storing Garments
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This precious lacquer box is decorated with bird and plant motifs and figures in mother-of-pearl inlay. The decoration depicts the leisurely pursuit of scholars in nature and a garden setting. Scholars play the board game <em>weiqi</em>, have philosophical conversations, pluck a <em>qin</em> (a zither-like instrument with strings), and read books. <br><br>Lacquer chests of this type were used to store garments neatly folded along their straight seams. The mother-of-pearl inlay from shells is a technique that was typically practiced by craftsmen in Hangzhou and other parts of southeast China near the sea.
| Artist / Maker | China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) |
|---|---|
| Date | 1400s |
| Culture / Origin | China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) |
| Medium | lacquered wood with mother-of-pearl inlay |
| Dimensions | Overall: 43 x 56 x 54.7 cm (16 15/16 x 22 1/16 x 21 9/16 in.) |
| Department | Chinese Art |
| Type | Lacquer |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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