Square tray with birds in a garden
Not on view
This complicated decorative composition features two pairs of pheasants and sparrows and a background of fruit trees, flowers, and a stylized rock, a sign of an upscale garden. These motifs represent wishes for longevity, riches, and worldly success. The lacquer is built of red layers over yellow ones, and the artist carved to varying depths to expose the colors. An interest in bright color combinations, also found in ceramics and textiles, characterizes the art of the late Ming dynasty.
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