明嘉靖 剔紅捧聖龍紋漆盒|Box with dragon design
Unknown Artist
Medium
Carved red lacquer
Dimensions
H. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm); Diam. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Classification
Lacquer
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Jiajing period (1522–66)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
Accession Number
2015.500.1.71a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite carved red lacquer box titled *Box with Dragon Design* (明嘉靖 剔紅捧聖龍漆盒), hails from China's Ming dynasty during the Jiajing period (2–66). Measuring just 4⅜ inches high and 10 inches in diameter, it as a luxurious container, likely for precious items like jewelry or incense. Crafted in the Asian Art tradition, its imperial flair is evident in the dynamic dragon motifs, symbols of power, protection, and divine authority in Chinese culture. The masterpiece showcases *tihong* (carved red lacquer), a pinnacle of Ming artistry requiring dozens of meticulously applied lacquer layers—bla...