Unknown Artist
Covered box decorated with lychee sprays
- Location
- Lower Asian gallery
- Further information
The wooden body of this box has been covered in many layers of red lacquer and the design carved in relief. The technique has been used in China for centuries, while this particular shape derives from ceramic seal-paste containers. This box was purchased in Japan by a private collector, and thus is included here as an example of 'creative adaptation' ('mitate') by Japanese tea practitioners who would have used it as an incense box ('kogo') to contain the slithers of imported fragrant wood used to scent a room.
The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.210.
- Place of origin
-
China
- Period
- China: Ming dynasty 1368–1644, Jiajing 1522–1566
- Year
- late 16th century
- Media
- Lacquerware
- Medium
- carved cinnabar lacquer with black lacquer interior
- Dimensions
- 3.6 x 7.0cm
- Credit
- Purchased 1989
- Accession number
- 339.1989
