Clothing box decorated with dragons

19th century

Not on view

This box’s lively design features two dragons chasing a flaming jewel. The beasts’ long, sinewy bodies wrap around the sides of the box; their heads face each other at opposite corners at the top. The masterful mixture of diverse materials—mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, and ray skin—highlights different textures, emphasizing not only the tactile quality of the mythical beasts but also their dynamic character.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

나전 대모 어피 용 무늬 옷상자 조선
螺鈿玳瑁魚皮龍文衣箱子朝鮮
Title: Clothing box decorated with dragons
Period: Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
Date: 19th century
Culture: Korea
Medium: Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, and ray skin
Dimensions: H. 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm); W. 17 3/4 in. (45.1 cm); L. 28 3/4 in. (73 cm)
Classification: Lacquer
Credit Line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
Object Number: 2015.500.3.7a, b
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Box decorated with dragons, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, ray skin, and brass wire, Korea — Box decorated with dragons
Korea
19th century

Palm-leaf Manuscript Storage Box, Lacquered wood with mother-of-pearl inlay; brass hinges and keyed lock., Thailand — Palm-leaf Manuscript Storage Box
Thailand
early 19th century

Stacked Food Box (Jūbako) with Taro Plants and Chrysanthemums, Shibata Zeshin Japanese, Lacquered wood, gold and silver hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and colored togidashimaki-e, Japan — Stacked Food Box (Jūbako) with Taro Plants and Chrysanthemums
Shibata Zeshin
mid-19th century

Box decorated with phoenixes, floral scrolls, and insects, Lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Korea — Box decorated with phoenixes, floral scrolls, and insects
Korea
19th century

Octagonal box with lid, Lacquer, wood, ray skin, and brass, Korea — Octagonal box with lid
Korea
19th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.