Minneapolis Institute of Art
Cosmetic Cabinet
ChinaLinkedCulture matchlcp-7111c01d5494
- Date
- 16th century
- Medium
- Carved red lacquer on a softwood frame
- Department
- Asian Art
- Institution
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Object ID
- 5192
From the Minneapolis Institute of Art record
An engraved and gilded mark on the base of this tabletop cosmetic cabinet tells us that it is a product of the official workshops of the Jiajing era of the Ming dynasty, dating it to the mid-1500s. This box presents a richly orchestrated scheme of symbolic plants and animals. The cartouches on the top and sides display the auspicious phoenix and cranes amongst clouds. Symbols of long life appear as well—the shou (longevity) character, lingzhi fungus, and peaches—as do the three friends of winter (pine, bamboo, plum tree), which represent perseverance and virtue. China, Asia
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Provenance & credit
As published by the source institution. Coverage varies — not every institution's open-data feed includes ownership history.
- Credit line
- Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton
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