Box of Carved Marbled Lacquer with Cloud Pattern Made by Zhang Cheng

Detail

Dates：Yuan Dynasty
Size：Height 6cm, Diameter 14.5cm

On the underside of the box is the needle-incised inscription “Made by Zhang Cheng”. According to records, both Zhang Cheng and Yang Mao were famous craftsmen of carved lacquerware in the Yuan dynasty. To make carved marbled lacquerware, two or three paint layers are lacquered on the vessel body, each with certain thickness. As a result, the carving would show different color layers. The work would be finished after the final polishing. This box has as thick as about 100 paint layers, which are carved to the bottom. Therefore, red and black lines can be seen from the carved surface. This lacquer box is pleasant to the eyes with its skillful carving, its hard lacquer and its beautiful luster.