id: 169512 accession number: 2011.34.b share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2011.34.b updated: 2020-11-04 22:10:48.794000 Round Box with Decoration of Two Pheasants and Peonies, late 1200s. China, late Southern Song (1127-1279) - early Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). Carved lacquer; overall: 21 x 40.6 cm (8 1/4 x 16 in.); lid: 8.5 x 40.6 cm (3 3/8 x 16 in.); bottom: 12.5 x 40.6 cm (4 15/16 x 16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 2011.34.b title: Round Box with Decoration of Two Pheasants and Peonies title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: late 1200s creation date earliest: 1270 creation date latest: 1300 current location: creditline: Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund copyright: --- culture: China, late Southern Song (1127-1279) - early Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) technique: carved lacquer department: Chinese Art collection: China - Song Dynasty type: Lacquer find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Overall: 21 x 40.6 cm (8 1/4 x 16 in.); Lid: 8.5 x 40.6 cm (3 3/8 x 16 in.); Bottom: 12.5 x 40.6 cm (4 15/16 x 16 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 241); Dec. 5, 2013 - January 9, 2015. --- PROVENANCE Takeshi Yanagi date: footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: This box is among the extremely rare and precious carved lacquer ware from the Song and early Yuan period and is arguably one of the most monumental and significant examples of the type. It exhibits extremely fine craftsmanship. To allow for the depth of carving, numerous layers of different colored lacquer were applied to a core of wood strengthened by a fabric covering impregnated with lacquer. Each layer was allowed to set before the next was applied, taking a long time to construct the lacquered body before the carving could begin.

Carved on top with two birds in flight against a floral ground and a band of spiral scrolls, it is a bold manifestation of the naturalistic and abstract approaches to carved lacquer decoration. The lively depiction of the subjects combined with the sinuous scrolls expresses the flux and freedom of nature.

Lacquer ware was always a valuable product in Chinese material culture and was often used as precious gifts in diplomatic, religious, and economic exchanges with other countries—Japan, for example, where this box was long preserved and acquired. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2011.34.b/2011.34.b_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2011.34.b/2011.34.b_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2011.34.b/2011.34.b_full.tif