Black lacquer on wood core with mother-of-pearl inlay and leaded brass wire
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 3.7 x 16.5 x 39.1 cm (1 7/16 x 6 1/2 x 15 3/8 in)
Type:
Container
Origin:
China
Date:
possibly 16th century
Period:
Ming dynasty
Description:
The landscape scene on the try features a celsetial orb pictured at the center of parting clouds that are positioned in the top middle of the design. Below, a tall gnarled tree of indeterminable species (with six-pointed foliage) twists and turns, spreading across the picture plane. At the base of the tree several large Taihu rocks appear (these bear the most damage with later pieces of brightly-colored shell repair).
Slender bamboo sprays project from behind the rocks and a waterfall spills over the rocks, flowing into the stream bed in several rounded arcs suggestive of a fast current. A pair of mandarin ducks have been incised into the shell inlay used to depict the rocks. A large animal (head now gone) also appears in front of the tree; this recumbent beast has been described as a deer, but this can only be conjecture. The animal does not have hooves or a typical deer tail. The landscape is completed with a row of sketchily conceived pine trees that appear on the distant shore.
The borders of the tray are filled with a typical "brocade pattern" at the corners and the sides bear ogival cartouches that contain peony scrolls. The underside of the tray has a schematic floral design that consists of sketchy flowers with a "star burst" arrangement of eight petals. This design does not seem to appear before the Ming dynasty.
Provenance:
?-to 1972
Sammy Yu Kuan Lee, President of Oriental House, Ltd., Tokyo, and Sammy Y. Lee & Wangs Company, Ltd., Hong Kong [1]
1972-1987
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York, NY, purchased from Sammy Yu Kuan Lee, President of Oriental House, Ltd., Tokyo, and Sammy Y. Lee & Wangs Company, Ltd., Hong Kong [2]
Unidentified owner, method of transfer unknown [3]
1994-1996
Estate of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY [4]
1996-1997
Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, New York, NY, transferred from the Estate of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler [5]
From 1997
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation
Notes:
[1] See paper file from the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, copy in object file.
[2] See note 1.
[3] The object was on loan to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery between 1987 and 1997.
[4] See note 1. See curatorial remark 1.
[5] See note 1.
Collection:
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Exhibition History:
The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)
Pavilions and Immortal Mountains: Chinese Decorative Art and Paintings (September 28, 1987 to February 28, 1988)
