明嘉靖 剔紅捧聖龍紋漆盒|Box with dragon design

Art Historical Context

This exquisite carved red lacquer box titled *Box with Dragon Design* (明嘉靖 剔紅捧聖龍漆盒), hails from China's Ming dynasty during the Jiajing period (2–66). Measuring just 4⅜ inches high and 10 inches in diameter, it as a luxurious container, likely for precious items like jewelry or incense. Crafted in the Asian Art tradition, its imperial flair is evident in the dynamic dragon motifs, symbols of power, protection, and divine authority in Chinese culture. The masterpiece showcases *tihong* (carved red lacquer), a pinnacle of Ming artistry requiring dozens of meticulously applied lacquer layers—black over red—then intricately incised to reveal vibrant crimson designs against a dark ground. This labor-intensive technique, perfected in the 14th–16th centuries, demanded years of skill and symbolized the era's opulence and technical virtuosity. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from Florence and Herbert Irving in 2015, this box reflects the Jiajing court's reverence for dragons as emblems of the emperor's celestial mandate. Visitors will appreciate its tactile beauty and the way it encapsulates Ming China's fusion of artistry, symbolism, and imperial prestige.