A circular carved cinnabar lacquer box and cover

Yuan dynasty, 14th century, China

diameter: 10 cm

This small box was most probably used for cosmetics or incense. Its top surface is carved with a single gardenia flower and stem surrounded by leaves – the sides with fragments of single leaves within a banded border. The gardenia, also called jasmine rose, represents the eleventh month and grows as an evergreen shrub with intensely fragrant flowers. The carving on this box is deep and fairly open – clearly revealing some fifteen alternating layers of black and red lacquer; the base ground colour is a dark yellow ochre. The interior is painted in a glossy thick black lacquer – as is the base; it is raised on a low foot ring, and reveals a fine original patina and craquelure.

similar examples
‘Carved Lacquer’, The Tokugawa Art Museum, Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, 1984 – figures 95, 96 and 97. These three examples are each signed by Yuan 14th century artists.