Cosmetic Cabinet, 16th century
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
Carved red lacquer on a softwood frameexpand_more
Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more 97.136a-h
Not on Viewexpand_more
An engraved and gilded mark on the base of this tabletop cosmetic cabinet tells us that it is a product of the official workshops of the Jiajing era of the Ming dynasty, dating it to the mid-1500s. This box presents a richly orchestrated scheme of symbolic plants and animals. The cartouches on the top and sides display the auspicious phoenix and cranes amongst clouds. Symbols of long life appear as well—the shou (longevity) character, lingzhi fungus, and peaches—as do the "three friends of winter" (pine, bamboo, plum tree), which represent perseverance and virtue.
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- Title
- Cosmetic Cabinet
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 97.136a-h
- 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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