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Lot Essay
Compare with a slightly larger bracket-lobed black tixi lacquer dish of more pronounced lobed form sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 May 2007, lot 1551.
The name for this type of lacquer, tixi, literally means carved rhinoceros, and derives from the Chinese characters most commonly used for the term xipi used to describe marbled lacquer, which resembles the hide of a rhinoceros. However, although both lacquer techniques involve the application of layers of lacquer in different colours, and their exposure for decorative purposes, the methods vary considerably. While the layers of differently coloured lacquer are applied to a deliberately uneven surface in xipi lacquer, they are applied to a well-prepared smooth surface for tixi lacquer. While the different colours are revealed by rubbing down the surface of xipi lacquer, they are revealed by carving designs in wide U-shaped or V-shaped lines on tixi lacquers.
This type of tixi lacquer is often referred by the Japanese name guri lacquer. The reference is to the most common designs on these wares, which are scrolling patterns. The word guri refers to pommel scroll, which these designs are thought to resemble. The equivalent Chinese term is jianhuan or sword [pommel] scroll, but these lacquers are most often referred to in Chinese by the term tixi. In English the term guri was traditionally used, but Sir Harry Garner proposed the term 'carved marbled ware' instead. The most popular design, and the one seen on the current tray, is usually described as ruyi yun wen or ruyi cloud pattern. Although these dishes bear a truncated version of the latter on its exterior, some other vessels bear a design known in Chinese as xiang cao or twisted grass, and in English as classic scroll.
The name for this type of lacquer, tixi, literally means carved rhinoceros, and derives from the Chinese characters most commonly used for the term xipi used to describe marbled lacquer, which resembles the hide of a rhinoceros. However, although both lacquer techniques involve the application of layers of lacquer in different colours, and their exposure for decorative purposes, the methods vary considerably. While the layers of differently coloured lacquer are applied to a deliberately uneven surface in xipi lacquer, they are applied to a well-prepared smooth surface for tixi lacquer. While the different colours are revealed by rubbing down the surface of xipi lacquer, they are revealed by carving designs in wide U-shaped or V-shaped lines on tixi lacquers.
This type of tixi lacquer is often referred by the Japanese name guri lacquer. The reference is to the most common designs on these wares, which are scrolling patterns. The word guri refers to pommel scroll, which these designs are thought to resemble. The equivalent Chinese term is jianhuan or sword [pommel] scroll, but these lacquers are most often referred to in Chinese by the term tixi. In English the term guri was traditionally used, but Sir Harry Garner proposed the term 'carved marbled ware' instead. The most popular design, and the one seen on the current tray, is usually described as ruyi yun wen or ruyi cloud pattern. Although these dishes bear a truncated version of the latter on its exterior, some other vessels bear a design known in Chinese as xiang cao or twisted grass, and in English as classic scroll.