Box with Boating Scene
Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Medium
carved red lacquer
Dimensions
9.3 × 6.4 × 2.1 cm (3 11/16 × 2 1/2 × 13/16 in.)
Classification
lacquerware
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
12922
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Box with Boating Scene*, crafted during China's Ming dynasty (1368–1644), exemplifies the era's mastery of lacquerware, a luxury art form prized by scholars and elites. Measuring just 9.3 × 6.4 × 2.1 cm, this compact red lacquer box likely served as a personal container for cosmetics, seals, or tea utensils, reflecting the refined tastes of daily life among the cultured class. The Ming period marked a golden age for decorative arts, with imperial workshops producing items that symbolized prosperity and sophistication. The artwork's medium—carved red lacquer (known as *qi diao*...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...