Dish, Zhang Cheng, c. 1300 - c. 1325

Dish, Zhang Cheng, c. 1300 - c. 1325

wood, lacquer, d 32.5cm × h 3.5cm More details

This lively carved dish features a pair of birds in flight against a background of lotus flowers and other water plants. The extraordinarily fine craftsmanship indicates that this dish was never meant for daily use. The production of lacquerware is an extremely time-consuming process that takes at least five years and sometimes involves the application of over two hundred layers of lacquer.