LACQUER AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID SQUARE BOX AND COVER
QING DYNASTY, 17TH-18TH CENTURY
7 cm wide, 3.1 cm high
The box is of square section, each side, including the interior and base, carefully inlaid with miniscule pieces mother-of pearl to create various geometric patterns. The domed cover depicts a stylised flower head, each petal showing a different pattern, including a wave pattern, a floral pattern, and a basket weave pattern.
The fine processing of the mother-of-pearl, which was used in extremely thin slivers selected according to colour. This technique was already documented during the Ming dynasty (1386-1644), but reached its peak during the Kangxi period (1662-1722). The present box was likely used to store incense or appreciated purely as a decorative object.
A small box in the shape of a blossom with a similar decoration is in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession number 91.1.672. Another round box with a very similar design, can be found in the Muwen Tang Collection, Hong Kong and is illustrated in Simon Kwan, Zhongguo Luodian. Chinese Mother-of-pearl. The Muwen Tang Collection Series 13, 2009, pl. 91.
Provenance:
Formerly in a private German collection
Published:
Patricia Frick, Chinesische Lackkunst: Eine Deutsche Privatsammlung, Museum für Lackkunst, Münster, 2010, cat. no. 41