Box with “peach-blossom grotto”

China

Not on view

Three Chinese characters incised on a rectangular piece of shell at upper right identify the scene on this box as the “peach-blossom grotto” (tao yuan dong). The phrase refers to a famous poem by Tao Qian (365–427) in which a fisherman enters a grotto and stumbles upon Shangri-la. As is invariably the case with such magical realms, once the man leaves the cave he is never able to return.

#7403. Box with "Peach Blossom Grotto"

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Box with “peach-blossom grotto”, Black lacquer with inlaid mother-of-pearl, China

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Box with “peach-blossom grotto”, Black lacquer with inlaid mother-of-pearl, China
Box with “peach-blossom grotto”, Black lacquer with inlaid mother-of-pearl, China
Box with “peach-blossom grotto”, Black lacquer with inlaid mother-of-pearl, China

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