Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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Seal-paste box and lid with three figures and a deer in a landscape

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    The piece is of rounded form, with a domed top and slightly concave base. Both parts are carved through thick layers of cinnabar lacquer with landscape scenes. The cover shows an elderly bearded gentleman in rich flowing robes accompanied by two servant boys, one carrying a qin zither, the other with a bundle slung across his shoulder, under overhanging branches of a pine and a deciduous tree. They are surrounded by rocks, further trees and other plants, with hills visible in the distance and clouds above. The ground is filled with honey-comb diaper, and blank space with horizontal striations. The reverse shows three deer among rocks under pine branches, with similar diaper backgrounds. The piece is heavily made, with a wooden core and perhaps some metal reinforcements, the inner sides are lacquered in black.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (south) (place of creation)
    Date
    18th century (1701 - 1800)
    Qing Dynasty (1645 - 1911)
    Material and technique
    wood, covered in red lacquer, and with carved decoration; black lacquer inside
    Dimensions
    with lid 4 cm (height)
    without lid 2.1 cm (height)
    7.9 cm (diameter)
    Material index
    organicvegetal wood,
    organicvegetalresin lacquer,
    Technique index
    formed carved,
    Object type index
    No. of items
    2
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.33
  • Further reading

    University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. L1

Glossary

lacquer

  • lacquer

    Chinese and Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the lacquer tree, which is indigenous to Eastern China. It is applied to wood as a varnish or for decorative effect. In India and the Middle East, lacquer is made from the deposit of the lac insect.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    The piece is of rounded form, with a domed top and slightly concave base. Both parts are carved through thick layers of cinnabar lacquer with landscape scenes. The cover shows an elderly bearded gentleman in rich flowing robes accompanied by two servant boys, one carrying a qin zither, the other with a bundle slung across his shoulder, under overhanging branches of a pine and a deciduous tree. They are surrounded by rocks, further trees and other plants, with hills visible in the distance and clouds above. The ground is filled with honey-comb diaper, and blank space with horizontal striations. The reverse shows three deer among rocks under pine branches, with similar diaper backgrounds. The piece is heavily made, with a wooden core and perhaps some metal reinforcements, the inner sides are lacquered in black.
Notice

Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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