Minneapolis Institute of Art

Lian cosmetic case with interior containers

China

Date

c. 100 BCE–c. 100 CE

Medium

Painted lacquer with silver inlay over wood core

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This brilliantly decorated lacquer cosmetic case was recovered intact, complete with three small lacquer boxes inside. Each smaller box is formed and decorated to match the larger case, or lian , with its delicately drawn scrollwork and silver inlay. The two small circular boxes have silver inlaid quatrefoil (four-petal) designs on top, and one still contains red face powder. Inside the narrow D-shaped box are four wooden hair combs of the same shape. The boxes are made of thin wood protected by several coats of dark brown lacquer. They are decorated with elaborate tracery painted in red and ocher lacquer and images of striding animals cut from silver sheets. The interiors of all the boxes and lids are lacquered and embellished with identical scrollwork. China, Asia

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