Tray

The landscape scene on the try features a celsetial orb pictured at the center of parting clouds that are positioned in the top middle of the design. Below, a tall gnarled tree of indeterminable species (with six-pointed foliage) twists and turns, spreading across the picture plane. At the base of the tree several large Taihu rocks appear (these bear the most damage with later pieces of brightly-colored shell repair).

Slender bamboo sprays project from behind the rocks and a waterfall spills over the rocks, flowing into the stream bed in several rounded arcs suggestive of a fast current. A pair of mandarin ducks have been incised into the shell inlay used to depict the rocks. A large animal (head now gone) also appears in front of the tree; this recumbent beast has been described as a deer, but this can only be conjecture. The animal does not have hooves or a typical deer tail. The landscape is completed with a row of sketchily conceived pine trees that appear on the distant shore.

The borders of the tray are filled with a typical “brocade pattern” at the corners and the sides bear ogival cartouches that contain peony scrolls. The underside of the tray has a schematic floral design that consists of sketchy flowers with a “star burst” arrangement of eight petals. This design does not seem to appear before the Ming dynasty.