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Lot Essay
The Jiajing Emperor was a fervent Daoist and became obsessed by the quest for immortality. Accordingly the overriding theme on ceramics and decorative arts of the Jiajing period reflected the emperor's preoccupation with Daoism and longevity.
The decoration on this box shows the emperor's keen interest in Daoism with the central representation of a temple. It has also been carefully designed to maximise its auspicious wishes.
The motif of cranes which was very popular during this period, is associated with the peaches, the character shou, the lingzhi fungus and the couple of deers. All together they convey wishes for longevity and immortality.
Interesting are the dragons which would have originally been five-clawed, as this is an imperial box. However, at a later date, the fifth toe on each foot was removed.
Compare the current box with an identical one in the Palace Collection, illustrated in Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2006, p. 155, pl.116.
The decoration on this box shows the emperor's keen interest in Daoism with the central representation of a temple. It has also been carefully designed to maximise its auspicious wishes.
The motif of cranes which was very popular during this period, is associated with the peaches, the character shou, the lingzhi fungus and the couple of deers. All together they convey wishes for longevity and immortality.
Interesting are the dragons which would have originally been five-clawed, as this is an imperial box. However, at a later date, the fifth toe on each foot was removed.
Compare the current box with an identical one in the Palace Collection, illustrated in Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Lacquer Wares of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2006, p. 155, pl.116.