Chrysanthemum-shaped dish

This plain lacquer plate has no surface decoration painted in color or carved in relief. Instead, it is molded into a special shape that resembles a delicate flower. The fifty-nine petals around its border suggest the shape of a chrysanthemum, a popular flower in southern China. Such a tray was used for serving cups of tea or snacks at tea gatherings—a popular pastime for scholars and officials of the time. The form is meant to call to mind a popular tea made of chrysanthemum flowers. The inscription on the bottom indicates the name and place of the workshop, so that the customer could remember the brand and come back again. This reflects the market competition among the lacquer makers at the time.