Tiered box “Green Gold”

2011

Not on view

This magnificent box epitomizes the top-quality of contemporary Chinese lacquerware. Recognized in 2012 as a National Crafts Master of China, the artist, Gan Erke, has established a new standard for lacquer craftsmanship as well as reinvigorating this traditional art with new technical innovations. Preeminent among Gan’s varied lacquer styles is the marbled technique known as “rhinoceros hide” (xipi), a kind of millefiori effect achieved through the application of multiple layers of colored lacquer. Gan not only picked up this traditional craft, but also added new innovations, most notably his bold color combinations—evidenced here. The predominance green pigment together with gold foil is a color scheme for which there is no historical precedent. Rather, this represents the artist’s innovative aesthetic experimentation.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Tiered box “Green Gold”
Artist: Gan Erke (Chinese, born 1955)
Date: 2011
Culture: China
Medium: Wood with layers of colored lacquer and gold leaf
Dimensions: H. 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm); Diam. 9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm)
Classification: Lacquer
Credit Line: Gift of the artist, 2021
Object Number: 2021.17a–e
Rights and Reproduction: © Gan Erke
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Gan Erke

From the same time and place

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Box with lid “Black and Red”, Gan Erke Chinese, Marbled lacquer (xipi) with gold foils, China — Box with lid “Black and Red”
Gan Erke
2013

Bowl “Deer-Antler Sand”, Gan Erke Chinese, Marbled lacquer (xipi) with gold foils, gold rim, China — Bowl “Deer-Antler Sand”
Gan Erke
2011

Bowl “Red Gold”, Gan Erke Chinese, Marbled lacquer (xipi) with gold foils, gold rim, China — Bowl “Red Gold”
Gan Erke
2011

Vase “Tang Flow”, Gan Erke Chinese, Marbled lacquer (xipi) with gold foils, China — Vase “Tang Flow”
Gan Erke
2011

Trumpet-mouth carving tool, Steel, China — Trumpet-mouth carving tool
China
20th century

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