Figures
1.1 Crimean Peninsula and location of the Ust’-Al’ma excavation site. Bonn 2013, 38–39. 11
1.2 Excavation situation of the large and small box found in catacomb 620, and fragments of the lacquer skin of the large box found in catacomb 720. Bonn 2013, 106, 123. 14
1.3 The lacquered boxes from catacomb 720 and 620 (from left to right: copy of a box from catacomb 720, original restored boxes from catacomb 720, big and small boxes from catacomb 620). Bonn 2013, 108. 16
1.4 Drawing of a box from catacomb 620 with content. Loboda 2002, 328, fig. 18. 22
1.5 Restored box from catacomb 720. Bonn 2013, 131. 23
1.6 Restored box from catacomb 620 and detail with cloud motif and double leaf motif. Bonn 2013, 130. 23
1.7 Small box from catacomb 620 and detail of the zigzag motifs. After Bonn 2013, 120. 24
1.8 Details of the lacquer boxes found in the tomb of Wang Guang. Lelang Commandery, today’s Pyongyang, North Korea. After Oba 1935, pl. 132, 133. 25
1.9 Details of the lacquer boxes found in the tomb of Wang Guang. Lelang Commandery, today’s Pyongyang, North Korea. After Oba 1935, pl. 129. 26
1.10 Examples of boxes from tomb 19, Tianchang, tomb 1, Sanqiaoyu, Tianchang, Anhui province and tomb 5, Huchang, Yangzhou, Jiangsu province. After Wang 1981, pl. 7, fig. 5, 1–3; Yang 2006, pl. 11–13; Yang / Jia / Yang 1993. 27
2.1 Geographical distribution of lacquer excavations and official lacquer workshops. Western Han dynasty. Drawing by the author. 31
2.2a Shanglin eared cup from barrow no. 6 at Suzukteh, Noyon Uul, Mongolia. Dated 2 BCE. After Miniaev / Elikhina 2009. 33
2.2b Exterior bottom of the shanglin eared cup. After Umehara 1960, pl. LIX. 33
2.2c Inscription on the shanglin eared cup, fragment. After Umehara 1960, pl. LIX. 33
2.3a Eared cup from barrow no. 1 at Tszurumte, fragments. Dated 2 BCE. After Louis 2006–2007, 50. 34
2.3b Inscription on the eared cup from barrow no. 1 at Tszurumte. After Miniaev / Elikhina 2009, 31. 34
2.4a Eared cup no. 1 from barrow no. 20 at Suzukteh, Noyon Uul. Dated 9 BCE. After Chistyakova 2009, 60. 36
2.4b Detail of eared cup no. 1 from barrow no. 20 at Suzukteh, Noyon Uul. After Chistyakova 2009, 60. 37
2.4c Eared cup no. 2 from barrow no. 20 at Suzukteh, Noyon Uul. Undated. After Chistyakova 2011, 86 37
2.5 Eared cup from barrow no. 31 at Suzukteh, Noyon Uul. Dated 9 BCE. After Chistyakova 2011, 87. 38
2.6 Lacquer fragment from Gol Mod 1. Dated 16 BCE. After Yeruul-Erdene 2015, 106. 40
2.7a Eared cup from Lelang. The inscription reads “made in the 1st year of suihe [8 BCE] by the gonggong workshop.” After Umehara 1943, pl. 21. 49
2.7b Eared cup from Lelang. The inscription reads “made in the 3rd year of yuanshi [3 CE] by the Western Workshop of Shujun.” After Umehara 1943, pl. 23. 49
2.8a Eared cup from Changsha, Hunan, inscribed with “Eastern Palace.” After Changsha 2016, 35. 51
2.8b Eared cup from Changsha, Hunan. L. 19.5 cm, w. 11.6 cm, fragmentary. After Changsha 2016, 36. 51
2.8c Inscription on an eared cup from Changsha, Hunan. After Changsha 2016, 37. 52
2.9a Eared cup with silver mounts from Dayunshan tomb 1, Xuyi, Jiangsu. H. 3.1 cm. Dated 127 BCE. After Nanjing 2013, 54. 53
2.9b Lacquer fragment with gold overlay from the Huangtushan tomb, Henan. Western Han dynasty. After Henan 2010, pl. 40. 53
2.9c Gold overlay from the Huangtushan tomb, Henan. Western Han dynasty. After Henan 2010, pl. 55. 54
2.10 Lacquer cosmetics boxes with gold inlay, Tushantun M 6, Shandong. H. 14.6 cm, d. 22 cm. 1st c. BCE. After Qingdao 2017, 49. 55
2.11a and 2.11b Banquet scene on a mural painting of a Western-Han brick tomb at Yanshi, Henan. After Luoyang / Huang / Guo 1996, 134, 129. 59
3.1 Lacquer objects from the tomb of Zhu Ran. Anhui, 249 CE. Museum of the Family Graveyard of Zhu Ran in Ma’anshan, Anhui, PR China. 66
3.2 Changes in tomb building. 68
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2a Western-Han shaft tomb with wooden chamber. Mawangdui tomb 1, Changsha, Hunan. After Hunan 1973, 3, fig. 3.
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2b Eastern-Jin brick tomb. Xianheguan tomb 6, Nanjing, Jiangsu. After Wang / Zhang / Jia 2001, 5, fig. 3.
3.3 Number of tombs with lacquer objects. 69
3.4 Lacquered tableware 71
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4a Eared cup. Eastern Wu. After Jiang 2007, 296, fig. 213.
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4b Square compartmentalized tray. Eastern Wu. After Jiang 2007, 297, fig. 214.
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4c Round compartmentalized tray. Eastern Wu. After Li 1984, 977.
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4d Ladle. Eastern Jin. After Zhao / Li 2001, 22, fig. 24.
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4e Chopsticks. Eastern Jin. After Zhao / Li 2001, 22, fig. 24.
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4f Bowl. Eastern Wu. After Liu 1980, 225, fig. 7.
3.5 Lacquered boxes 72
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5a and 5b Round boxes. Eastern Wu. After Liu 2013, 413, fig. 25.4 and 414, fig. 26.
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5c Square box. Eastern Wu. After Jiang 2007, 296, fig. 213.
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5d Fan-shaped box. Eastern Jin. After Zhao / Li 2001, 22, fig. 24.
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5e Oval box. Eastern Wu. After Ruan 1998, 22, fig. 3.4.
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5f Round box with inlay of golden elements. Eastern Wu. After Wang / Zhang / Jia 2001, 26.
3.6 Furniture 73
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6a Tablet
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6b Armrest. Both Eastern Jin. After Zhao / Li 2001, 21, fig. 21.
3.7 Two plates from an Eastern Jin tomb. Nanchang train station, Jiangxi. City Museum of Nanchang, Jiangxi, PR China. After Zhao / Li 2001, 14–15, fig. 6, 8. 77
3.8 Vessels from the tomb of Lei Diao. Eastern Jin. Nanchang, Jiangxi. City Museum of Nanchang, Jiangxi, PR China. Yang 2007, 138. 78
3.9 Boys playing with sticks or spears, and hunting scenes. 79
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9a After Wang / Zhang / Jia 2001, 28, fig. 71
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9b and 3.9c After Zhu 1986, 20, fig. 8
3.10 Inscriptions on lacquer vessels. 81
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10a 吳□作上牢 Wu [?] zuo shang lao; on fragment. After Zhu 1986, 20.
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10b 吳氏槅 Wu shi ge; on compartmentalized vessel. After Yu 1974, 375.
4.1 Detail of Qingming shanghe tu (‘By the Riverbank at the Qingming Festival’), handscroll by Zhang Zeduan. Ink and colors on silk, h. 24.8 cm, l. 528.7 cm. Song dynasty. Palace Museum, Beijing. 86
4.2 Cosmetic box in qiangjin-technique. Red lacquer on wood, h. 21.3 cm, d. 19.2 cm. Southern Song dynasty. Changzhou Museum, Jiangsu province. 89
4.3 Bowl from the excavation at Laoheshan near Hangzhou, with an inscription specifying Lin’an as the place of manufacture. Black lacquer on wood, h. 6.8 cm, d. 18 cm. Southern Song dynasty. Nanjing Museum, Jiangsu province. 91
4.4 Ladies at their morning toilet, album leaf by an anonymous artist. Ink and colors on silk, h. 24.2 cm, w. 25 cm. Song dynasty. National Palace Museum, Taipei. 93
4.5a Basin made with the heti or quandie method. Black lacquer on wood and bamboo, h. 10 cm, d. 28 cm. Northern Song dynasty. Changzhou Museum, Jiangsu province. 94
4.5b Detail of fig. 4.5a. 94
4.6 Flower-shaped bowl stand with alternating cusps and indentations. Black lacquer over red lacquer on wood, h. 6.1 cm, d. 16.1 cm. Northern Song dynasty. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.: Gift of Arthur M. Sackler 98
4.7 Inscriptions from the lacquer objects excavated at Yangmiaozhen, Jiangsu province. After Jiangsu 1960. 99
4.8 Bowl stand with an inscription referring to Tanzhou (present-day Changsha in Hunan province). Black lacquer on lacquer-stiffened fabric, h. 6.4 cm, d. 14 cm. Northern Song dynasty. Victoria and Albert Museum, London, inv. no. W.3-1938. 101
4.9 Flower-shaped bowl from the excavation at Shilipu with an inscription referring to Xiangzhou (present-day Xiangyang in Hubei province). Black and red lacquer on wood, h. 9.3 cm, d. 16.5 cm. Northern Song dynasty. Hubei Provincial Museum, Wuhan. 101
4.10a Plate in the shape of a water chestnut flower. Black lacquer over red lacquer on wood, h. 2.6 cm, d. 19.6 cm. Southern Song dynasty. Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo, inv. no. 50598. 105
4.10b Plate in the shape of a water chestnut flower. Guan ware with grayish blue glaze, h. 3.9 cm, d. 16.8 cm. Southern Song dynasty. Sir Percival David Foundation, British Museum, London, inv. no. PDF, A.46. 105
5.1 Incense box. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl and metallic inlay, gold powder and colored tortoiseshell. Goryeo dynasty, c. 12th century. National Museum of Korea, Seoul. Joseon Gojeokdobo 1915–1935, fig. 3773. 108
5.2 Details of figure 1. Outside box (cover), 290.9 mm × 187.8 mm × 112.1 mm. Joseon Gojeokdobo 1915–1935, fig. 3774. 108
5.3 Details of figure 1. Inner box (body), 269.6 mm × 171 mm × 103 mm. Joseon Gojeokdobo 1915–1935, fig. 3775. 108
5.4a Fragments showing the motif of flowering trees. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay, gold powder and colored tortoiseshell. 109
5.4b Fragments of the cover, showing the motif of flowering trees. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay, gold powder and colored tortoiseshell. 109
5.4c Fragments of the inner box showing the motif of flowering trees. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay, gold powder and colored tortoiseshell. 109
5.5a Details of the inner tray showing the lotus pattern. Tray, h. 22.7 mm, lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay, gold powder and colored tortoiseshell. Yoshino 1954, 6, fig. 5. 111
5.5b Details of figure 5a, the lotus pattern of the inner tray. 112
5.5c Details of figure 5a, the lotus pattern on the edge of the inner tray. 112
5.6a Details of figure 1 showing the motif of a willow tree. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay. 113
5.6b Details of figure 1 showing the motif of trees. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay and gold powder. 114
5.6c Details of figure 1 showing the motif of flowering trees. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay, gold powder and colored tortoiseshell. 114
5.6d Details of figure 1 showing the motif of flowering trees; lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay, gold powder and colored tortoiseshell. 115
5.6e Details of figure 1 showing the motif of flowering trees; lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay, gold powder and colored tortoiseshell. 115
5.7a Details of the outer frame of the outside box, with ogival-shaped pattern and lotus scroll pattern. Mother-of-pearl and metallic inlay, and colored tortoiseshell. 116
5.7b Details of the outer frame of the outside box. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl and metallic inlay, and colored tortoiseshell. 116
5.8a Details of x-shaped geometric patterns on the upper, left, and right zones of the inner box. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl and metallic inlay. 118
5.8b Details of flower-shaped geometric patterns on the lower part of the inner box. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl and metallic inlay. 118
5.9 A fragment of the inner box (left) and magnified detail of the mother-of- pearl (right), w. about 3 mm. Lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay and gold powder. 119
5.10 Pieces of incense found in the inner box, w. 1–1.5 cm, h. 0.1–0.2 cm. 119
5.11 Cross section of layers. 120
5.12 Incense box. Lacquer with inlays of mother-of-pearl and colored tortoiseshell, 16.3 cm × 17.0 cm × 3.7 cm. Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), 13th century. Private collection, Kyoto, Japan. 123
6.1 Cabinet. Red and black lacquer on wood, powdered gold and silver, inlays of gold and silver foil, mother-of-pearl, coral and massive silver, metal fittings gilt brass, 53 × 73 × 44 cm. Japan, around 1640. Staatliche Münzsammlung München (inv. no. LK 019). 126
6.2 Joseph Vivien (1657–1734), Portrait of Max Emanuel of Bavaria. Pastel, 129.0 × 101.0 cm. Around 1699. Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Staatsgalerie im Neuen Schloss Schleißheim (inv. no. 2302). 127
6.3 Cabinet as in fig. 1, detail of repeated pattern. 130
6.4 Cabinet, converted from a casket. Black lacquer on wood, powdered gold and silver, inlays of silver foil, metal fittings gilt brass, 42 × 60 × 36 cm. Japan, 1630–1640. Staatliche Münzsammlung München (inv. no. LK 003). 131
6.5 Cabinet, converted from a casket. Black lacquer on wood, powdered gold and silver, inlays of silver and gold foil, metal fittings gilt brass, 42 × 63 × 34 cm. Japan, 1630–1640. Staatliche Münzsammlung München (inv. no. LK 002). 131
6.6 Cabinet as in fig. 1, with opened doors. 137
6.7 Cabinet as in fig. 1, right exterior side. 139
6.8 Cabinet as in fig. 1, left exterior side. 140
6.9 Frontispiece of Laurentius Beger, Thesaurus Ex Thesauro Palatino Selectus, Sive Gemmarum Et Numismatum Quae … Copper engraving. Heidelberg, 1685. 150
Tables
1.1 Lacquer fragments and objects in the tombs 15
1.2 The workshop system 19
2.1 Eared cups with facing birds excavated from the Xiongnu tombs at Noyon Uul Mountains 39
3.1 Important finds 83
5.1 The form and size of the incense box (figs. 5.1–5.3, fig. 5.5) 111