Lacquer tray

Object Details

• Description

  A pair of phoenixes with decorative tails in two styles fills the center of the carved red lacquer tray or dish. The red lacquer contrasts with a mustard-colored lacquer used close to the base of the carving. Flowers of the four seasons surround the phoenixes, which are supernatural birds that serve as emblems of peace, prosperity, and a just government. The flowers are comprised of camellia, an unidentified five-petaled flower that may be quince (these two represent winter and early spring); the peony for late spring, the lotus for summer; and the chrysanthemum for autumn. The flowers of the seasons do not follow a logical calendrical cycle since the summer lotus and winter camellia directly abutt each other, but seasonal symbolism may be intended.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Nine Deaths, Two Births: Xu Bing's Phoenix Project (April 27 to September 2, 2013)

  The Legacy of Genghis Khan: Courtly Art and Culture in Western Asia, 1256-1353 (November 5, 2002 to July 27, 2003)

  Pavilions and Immortal Mountains: Chinese Decorative Art and Paintings (September 28, 1987 to February 28, 1988)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Sacker 24a: An Epic of Kings: The Great Mongol Shahnama

• 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, Peony, Camellia, Autumn, Chrysanthemum, Chinese Art, Lacquer, Phoenix, Southern Song dynasty (1127 - 1279), Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368), Lotus

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes