Splendors of Polychrome Inlay: The Art of Bai-bao Qian in the 16th-18th Centuries
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Lin, Wan-Hsuan
Abstract
Bai Bao Qian (“inlay with hundreds of treasures’’) refers to a technique of decorating lacquer ware or wood ware with inlaid pictures formed by shaped colored materials (mostly precious stones). As one of the most important decorative techniques of Early Modern China, Bai Bao Qian is commonly considered as a new achievement of the late Ming dynasty, reaching its full maturity in the mid Qing dynasty. However, the history of Bai Bao Qian remains obscure. Consequently, the present study aims to clarify it from three aspects, spanning from the 16th century to the 18th century. The first part discusses Zhou Zhi, the alleged master of Bai Bao Qian in the late Ming, along with Bai Bao Qian’s producing area and the consumer evaluations of these artworks. Secondly, it is argued that Bai Bao Qian owes much to the tradition of mother-of-pearl inlay, perhaps with the inspiration from pietre dure in the context of world art history. Finally, the Qing court is taken into view, whose influence on Bai Bao Qian in the 18th century is manifested on the choices of inlaid materials, forms, themes, artisans, production sites, etc. Featuring interactions between the East and the West, Bai Bao Qian, a crucial part of the decoration and display of the Qing court, provides a fresh look into the decorative art of the High Qing.
Subjects
Inlaid work
Mother-of-pearl inlay
Decorative object
Qing Court
Interaction
Type
thesis
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