Perfume Holder Lid
1999.13.0006C
Detailed Images
Basic Information
Artifact Identification | Perfume Holder Lid (1999.13.0006C) |
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Classification/ Nomenclature |
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Artist/Maker | Unknown |
Geographic Location | |
Period | Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) |
Date | 18th century |
Culture | Chinese |
Location | Not on Exhibit |
Physical Analysis
Dimension 1 (Width) | 5.2 cm |
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Dimension 2 (Depth) | 5.1 cm |
Dimension 3 (Height) | 2.9 cm |
Weight | 29 g |
Measuring Remarks | N/A |
Materials | Plant--Wood, Pigment--Stain |
Manufacturing Processes | Carved, Turning, Incising |
Research Remarks
Description | This is the lid of a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) carved bamboo perfume holder which has a motif of a warrior on horseback in an elaborate and naturalistic landscape. The natural world has been a consistent theme of Chinese artwork and can be seen in this artifact with the image of bamboo and pine trees coexisting with human society. Bamboo is a difficult wood to carve, yet it represents longevity given that it flourishes throughout winter. Lacquerware was typically produced in government-sponsored workshops, though this was not always the case. In times of economic prosperity, the commercial workshops of southern China, particularly the southeastern provinces of the Song and Yuan periods (13th-14th century) and the late Ming era (1368-1644), were innovative in their approaches to creating lacquer items. Lacquer items from the Qing palace workshops were, at first, carved by craftsmen capable of overcoming the difficulties of lacquer carving due to their experience carving bamboo and ivory. However, the rapid political and economic decline of the Qing Dynasty following the reign of Qianlong (1735-1796) resulted in the closing down of many palace workshops, and the lacquer items made afterwards were fewer and had diminished in quality. |
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Published Description | N/A |
Bibliography | Hutt, Julia. Understanding Far Eastern Art: A Complete Guide to the Arts of China, Japan and Korea - Ceramics, Sculpture, Painting, Prints, Lacquer, Textiles and Metalwork. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1987. |
Artifact History
Credit Line/Dedication | Fred A. Freund Collection |
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Reproduction | No |
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