Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
A phoenix and dragon alternating with two auspicious ornate characters—“fortune” 福（<em>fu</em>) and “longevity” 壽 (<em>shou</em>)—adorn this exquisitely carved lacquer jar. Similar to contemporary five-color (<em>wucai</em>) 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].”
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
146698
label
Jar with Dragon and Phoenix Design
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
146698
contentType
object
title
Jar with Dragon and Phoenix Design
description
A phoenix and dragon alternating with two auspicious ornate characters—“fortune” 福（<em>fu</em>) and “longevity” 壽 (<em>shou</em>)—adorn this exquisitely carved lacquer jar. Similar to contemporary five-color (<em>wucai</em>) 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].”
date
1522–66
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60750264
genreSpecific
Lacquer
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 11.8 cm (4 5/8 in.)
cul
China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Jiajing mark and reign (1522-66)
accession
1972.14
Source extras
tec
carved lacquer in cinnabar and other colors
tombstone
Jar with Dragon and Phoenix Design, 1522–66. China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Jiajing mark and reign (1522-66). Carved lacquer in cinnabar and other colors; overall: 11.8 cm (4 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 1972.14
collection
China - Ming Dynasty
inscriptions
inscription
大明嘉靖年製
inscription_translation
Da Ming Jiajing nian zhi
inscription_remark
Made in the Ming dynasty, Jiajing period
citations
citation
Garner, Sir Harry Mason. <em>Chinese Lacquer</em>. London: Faber and Faber, 1979.
page_number
Reproduced: fig. #77, p. 139
citation
Wilson, J. Keith. "Powerful Form and Potent Symbol: The Dragon in Asia." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 77, no. 8 (1990): 286-323.
page_number
Referenced: cat. no. 33, p. 321. Reproduced: p. 287, 321
citation
Turner, Evan H. "The Year in Review for 1992." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 80, no. 2 (1993): 38-79.
page_number
Referenced: cat. no. 304, p. 115
creditline
John L. Severance Fund
updatedAt
2026-06-17 11:19:44.401000
sourceId
146698
dept
Chinese Art
coll
China - Ming Dynasty
med
carved lacquer in cinnabar and other colors
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
3e977a18b5dee6ea