Object
Box with mandarin duck design
- Lacquerware with gold inlay
- Japan, Muromachi period, 16th century
- Collection of Tokyo National Museum
This black lacquer box is decorated with line patterns engraved into the lacquer with gold leaf or powder influenced by the Chinese qiangjin technique, know as chinkin in Japanese. The lid depicts a pair of mandarin ducks on waves: the front and back show a crane and turtle under a pine tree. The ducks on the lid reflect the flower-and-bird painting style of the Ming dynasty, representing the exotic Chinese influence.
