Seal Box, c. 1410
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
Red lacquer with engraved gold decoration (qiangjin)expand_more
Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more 2001.69.1
On View in Gallery 210expand_more
Made in the imperial Chinese workshops, large, elaborate seals presented in luxurious boxes were among the gifts bestowed on a number of Tibetan dignitaries who traveled to China’s capital for audiences with the Xuande (r. 1426-35) and Yongle (r. 1403-24) emperors. This presentation box is one of the few known to have survived to the present day, and was possibly given to a Tibetan hierarch in the early 1400s. It is decorated in the engraved gold technique (qiangjin) with a mythological creature called a qilin reclining in a sparse landscape. The auspicious mythical beast is regarded as an emblem of divine justice and the embodiment of princely virtue. The association of the qilin with both divine justice and virtuous rule made it an appropriate gift for political exchange.
Details
- Title
- Seal Box
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2001.69.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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