Early 18th Century Japanese Ryukyuan Dragon Mother-Of-Pearl Inlay Lacquer Incense /Plant Stand

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A rare piece of late 17th to early 18th century Ryukyuan Mother-of-Pearl inlay Lacquer incense Stand , , the stand … Read more A rare piece of late 17th to early 18th century Ryukyuan Mother-of-Pearl inlay Lacquer incense Stand , , the stand is set on a raised platform, and has beautifully shaped cabriole legs, with a high, pierced waist and shaped apron. It is decorated with a carved five claws dragon on the top and two bright colors love birds & Japanese maple leaves. Lacquerware was an important export from the Ryukyu Kingdom, as part of its flourishing international trade. The Kaizuri-bugyosho (‘Shell-polishing Office’), a royal government facility in the capital, Shuri, was responsible for managing the production of the beautiful works used as gifts to the emperor of China and the shogun and daimyo in Japan. As you can see the dragon on the top looks similar to late 17th early 18th century Qing dynasties Yongzhen period China, back then the Chinese motifs such as auspicious designs and bird-and-flower and landscape designs were skillfully rendered using exquisite techniques such as mother-of-pearl inlay, gold inlay, and mitsuda-e, a form of oil painting. It is showing the wear of the age but still in good antique condition. This was a part of Asian collections of a private gentleman in Hingham MA. Measurement: 18 1/2” H x 16” W . See less