Small box in the form of hibiscus blossom

Object Details

• Artist

  Jiang Qianli (active 17th-early 18th century)

• Label

  This delicate box in the shape of a hibiscus flower is lavishly decorated with small pieces of metal foil and thin slivers of iridescent shell, or mother-of-pearl, meticulously inlaid into the lacquer surface. A fashion for lacquerware inlaid with foil and shell became popular in the first half of the seventeenth century, but at that time most of the designs consisted of landscapes and figures. In the Kangxi era (1662-1722), a new vogue arose for lacquer decorated with geometric designs executed with great precision, as seen here.

  Virtually every inch of this box is embellished. The inside is inlaid with two branches of fruit trees, and the base bears a name seal inlaid in mother-of-pearl as well as images of flowers. The seal reads Qianli which is conventionally believed to be the given name of the craftsman Jiang Qianli. Little historical information has been discovered about this man, so it is possible that the name actually refers to a workshop, not a person. Ultimately, the Qianli seal became synonymous with the technique of delicate, geometric designs inlaid in mother-of-pearl.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  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

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1600s, 1730s

• Name

  Jiang, Qianli

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Inlay (process), Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722), Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Lacquer, Hibiscus

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Containers