Cleveland Museum of Art

Box in Form of Lotus Leaf

Date

1700s

Medium

ivory

Culture

China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), luxury items became more affordable to larger parts of the society, including women, merchants, and literati in non-official positions. Imperial patronage and a growing urban population encouraged consumption of luxury goods and local craftmanship. This fine grained, light yellow ivory carved the the shape of a lotus leaf illustrates the superb carving skills and the creative mind of the talented artisan who sought clients on a competitive market. Inside each box is a lotus pond and two swimming ducks carved in high relief.

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