Round Dish of Black Lacquer with Mother-of-pearl Inlays of Human Figures

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Dates:

Qing Dynasty

Size:

Diameter of face 12.7cm, Diameter of bottom 9.4cm, Height 1.2cm

The lacquer plate is inlaid with soft mother-of-pearl, with the inscription of two seal characters“Qianli on its bottom side. Jiang Qianli (intimate name Qiushui) was born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province. He was widely known as a great master of the mother-of-pearl inlay technique. Many utensils with mother-of-pearl inlays were inscribed "Qianli", so there was a saying that "Every family's cups and plates are made by Qianl." The rim of the plate is decorated with folded lines and spring vine pattern. At the center is the mother-of-pearl inlay with design of a classical lady in a courtyard. In the fenced-in courtyard, the grass is green and vast, the rockeries are exquisite, the flowers are in blossom, the trees tilt. A pile of books is placed on the stones under the trees and a beautiful lady is leaning against the tree reading a book, her servant girl standing by her side with a tray on hand. The design is elaborately carved, the figure's hair, costume, posture and facial expression are vivid and impressive, the tree trunk is twisted and beautiful, the leaves are colorful and lifelike, all of which show the exquisite skill of mother-of-pearl inlay. Even though the tree trunk appears discontinuous with the loss of two pieces of mother-of-pearl, the glory of the art can hardly be concealed.