Lot 2921
2921
A RARE FINELY INLAID MOTHER-OF-PEARL BROWN LACQUER CUP STAND
A RARE FINELY INLAID MOTHER-OF-PEARL BROWN LACQUER CUP STAND
1 More
THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
A RARE MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID BROWN LACQUER BOWL STAND

YUAN DYNASTY (1279-1368)

Details
A RARE MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID BROWN LACQUER BOWL STAND
YUAN DYNASTY (1279-1368)
Inlaid with mother-of-pearl throughout, the curved sides of the bowl stand and the rounded flange are each decorated with three ruyi-shaped cartouches, each depicting a scene from 'Biographies of Exemplary Women' , Liennu zhuan, reserved on a ground embellished with dense floral scrolls. The underside of the flange is decorated with three detached branches of flowers.
6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm.) wide, Japanese wood box

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

Sign in
View condition report

Lot Essay

During the Yuan and Ming periods, popular folk stories which first appeared in woodblock print form were adopted as decorative designs by lacquer craftsmen. The technique of using carved mother-of-pearl inlay was ideal in expressing detailed pictorial designs as found on this cup stand. From the images, it is likely that these were inspired by 'The Biographies of Exemplary Women' which was originally compiled by the Han Dynasty scholar Liu Xiang who recorded one hundred and twenty-five biographical accounts of virtuous women in ancient China.

More from Drawn by the Senses

View All
View All