Minneapolis Institute of Art

Square Dish

China

Date

mid 16th century

Medium

Carved red and yellow lacquer (<I>tihong<I>)

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Lobed and scalloped lacquer forms that evolved during the Yuan dynasty (1280-1368) remained popular throughout the Ming (1368-1644). In the center of this red lacquer eight-lobed square form dish are three scholars playing a board game known as Go, a pastime popular with the learned class and became a symbol in itself of this elite group and its values. Emanating outward are an eight-lobed design carved with sprigs of lingzhi fungus on a star-patterned background as well as an outer band of flowering plants. China, Asia

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