Early 1400s

Box with the Three Friends of Winter (Plum, Bamboo, Pine)

Artist/maker unknown

The red lacquer layers of this box’s cover were carved through to reveal the yellow lacquer ground beneath. Designs of plum blossoms, bamboo, and stylized pine, complexly arranged and intertwined on different planes, convey a sense of depth. This trio of plants, each able to flourish through the winter, was dubbed the Three Friends of Winter and came to convey integrity and fortitude, virtues associated with a scholar-gentleman.

Lacquer resin from a tree was first used to embellish objects more than three thousand years ago. It was not only decorative but also practical, being impervious to water as well as heat. Creating carved lacquer was a time-consuming process that involved building up multiple coatings on a wood surface. Each layer of lacquer had to cure fully in a humid environment and then be polished before the next layer could be applied; when the layers were completed, the design was carved. This process could take years, adding to the prestige of the object.