Collection record · Everyday wonders
Jar with Dragon and Phoenix Design
The collection record classifies this work as lacquer. It is dated 1522–66. Recorded culture or place: China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Jiajing mark and reign (1522-66).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Jar with Dragon and Phoenix Design
- Date
- 1522–66
- Culture / origin
- China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Jiajing mark and reign (1522-66)
- Materials and technique
- carved lacquer in cinnabar and other colors
- Dimensions
- Overall: 11.8 cm (4 5/8 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1972.14
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
A phoenix and dragon alternating with two auspicious ornate characters—“fortune” 福（fu) and “longevity” 壽 (shou)—adorn this exquisitely carved lacquer jar. Similar to contemporary five-color (wucai) decoration on porcelain, this jar shows layers of lacquer in black, ochre, green, and cinnabar (red). In a time-consuming process, a multitude of lacquer coatings were applied to the wooden core before its design could be carved into the surface. The phoenix and dragon are imperial emblems suggesting that this jar was made for the court. The base of the jar is inscribed: “Made in the Jiajing-era of the Great Ming [dynasty].”
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · John L. Severance Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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