Round lobed box with mother-of-pearl inlay

Object Details

• Description

  This box is shaped with lobes modeled to resemble the petals of a lotus blossom, symbol of Buddhist purity. Strips of pewter wire outline the "petals" as part of the decorative scheme and for practical purposes on the edges. The side of the box and the cover are decorated with lotus-petal panels outlined with single strips of pewter wire. The top of the cover is composed of a double border of a nine-petalled lotus design, a pair of circles and two more circles, all outlined with strips of pewter wire. An inset center medallion of reticulated mother-of-pearl is engraved with a coiled dragon.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Japanese and Chinese Lacquer (September 22, 1982 to June 30, 1983)

  A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)

  Chinese Album Leaves and Lacquer (February 22, 1971 to November 22, 1971)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1200s, 1300s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Inlay (process), Chinese Art, Lacquer, Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368), Lotus, Dragon

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Containers