Lacquer Samples
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Lacquer
Dimensions
H. 4 11/16 in. (11.9 cm); W. 1 1/2 in. (3.81 cm)
Classification
Miscellaneous
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1923
Accession Number
23.214.31–.36
Art Historical Context
These delicate *Lacquer Samples* from19th-century Japan offer a glimpse into the exquisite craftsmanship of urushi lacquerware, revered tradition spanning centuries. Measuring just 4 11/16 inches and 1 1/2 inches wide, these rectangular pieces showcase the medium's glossy finish and intricate possibilities. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1923 and in the Metropolitan Museum of's Arms and Armor Department they are classified as miscellaneous artifacts, likely test pieces or swatches demonstrating lacquering techniques. Japanese lacquer, derived from the sap of the urushi tree, was laboriou...