Octagonal box with dragons
approx. 1600-1700
Asian Art Museum
San Francisco, United States
The top of this elaborately decorated box shows a five clawed flying dragon facing forward surrounded by four smaller dragons in profile. The golden dragon is a wel lknown symbol of imperial authority, with the five-clawed dragon motif mainly reserved for the emperor and his family. The designs have been cut into the ground in shallow relief. Fine incised lines filled with gold (qiangjin) outline individual motifs and separate each color within them. Although the piece does not have a mark, the style of the dragons and other decor point to a date in the late Ming, perhaps during the reign of the Wanli emperor (1573–1619).
- Title: Octagonal box with dragons
- Date Created: approx. 1600-1700
- Location Created: China
- Physical Dimensions: H. 7 in x Diam. 16 1/2 in
- Rights: Public Domain
- Medium: Multicolor lacquer with incised and painted multicolor designs
- Credit Line: Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60M8
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