China
Covered Box with Butterflies, Gourds, and Scrolling Vines
INV-3669
ChinaQing dynasty (1644–1911), Yongzheng (1723–35) or early Qianlong period (1736–95), 18th century
Covered Box with Butterflies, Gourds, and Scrolling Vines
China
Chinese (culture or style)lacquerlacquerware
Date
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Yongzheng (1723–35) or early Qianlong period (1736–95), 18th century
Medium
Carved cinnabar lacquer on wood
Dimensions
9.5 × 32.4 cm (3 3/4 × 12 3/4 in.); Diam.: 32.4 cm (12 3/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles Fabens Kelley in memory of Charles Fabens Kelley
This vessel plays upon a rebus: the words for “butterfly” and “gourd” together allude to the wish for innumerable generations of sons and grandsons. The image of fruit-bearing stems visually reinforces this ideal, which was highly valued in traditional Confucian society. Butterflies with beautifully contoured wings flutter amid red, orange, and pale green gourds, melons, pumpkins, or squash. The lobed fruits are decorative rather than botanically specific; together, they grow from gracefully trailing stems with large palmette leaves and elegantly curled tendrils.
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