The Five Directions: Lacquer Through East Asia at LACMA

 

Chest with Figures, Flowers, and Birds
Ryukyu Islands, about 1650-1750
Furnishings; Furniture
Black lacquer on wood core with mother-of-pearl inlay and metal fittings
15 x 17 7/8 x 13 1/8 in. (38.1 x 45.4 x 33.34 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Krashen (M.83.114)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

 
 

The Five Directions

Lacquer Through East Asia

 

December 18, 2022 — April 16, 2023

The Five Directions: Lacquer Through East Asia traces the flow of materials and ideas throughout the region. Lacquer, a natural polymer derived from tree sap, was a widely circulated and prized commodity. Stylistic variations set regions apart. Still, the dynamic flow of techniques, materials, and visual vocabularies continued uninterrupted, even during times of relative isolationism. Drawing inspiration from a spatial conception where North, South, East, and West are joined by a fifth direction, the Center, the exhibition unpacks the nature of these exchanges—as trade, tribute, and treasure.

Visitors are invited to circumnavigate islands of micro-stories and trace the development of lacquer art as a multi-directional process. With over 80 important works from LACMA’s collection, The Five Directions offers a nuanced rethinking of lacquer in the region, celebrating Japan, Korea, China, and the Ryūkyū kingdom (Okinawa) as meeting points as well as centers in their own right.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exhibition Preview

 

Circular Tray with Two Dragons Chasing a Flaming Pearl
Ryukyu Islands, about 1700-1800
Furnishings; Serviceware
Black lacquer on wood core with mother-of-pearl inlay
3 1/2 x 35 1/4 in. (8.89 x 89.54 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Lee in memory of Major-General E. F. Easterbrook (M.89.155)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Black-lacquered Clothing Chest with Peony and Arabesque Design
Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), early 20th century
Furnishings; Accessories
Black lacquer on wood core with gold painted decoration, mother-of-pearl inlay, and metal fittings
16 3/4 x 28 3/4 x 16 1/2 in. (42.55 x 73 x 41.91 cm)
Purchased with Museum Funds (M.2000.15.151a-b)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Pair of Pillows with Nightmare Eating Baku Design
Alternate Title: 南天獏蒔絵祝枕
Japan, late Edo period, circa 1800
Lacquer
Wood and bamboo with gold, silver, and red lacquer
[each] 5 3/8 x 7 7/8 x 3 1/2 in. (13.65 x 20 x 8.89 cm)
Gift of Sue Tsao (M.2013.19.1-.2)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Square Dish (Die) with Scholars by the Shore
China, Chinese, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, 1662-1722
Furnishings; Serviceware
Black lacquer on wood core with shell and gold leaf inlay
1/2 x 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 in. (1.27 x 11.43 x 11.43 cm)
Gift of Miss Bella Mabury (M.39.2.569.2)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Square Tray (Fang Pan) with Pair of Birds in Peonies
China, Chinese, early Ming dynasty, about 1368-1450
Furnishings; Serviceware
Carved black lacquer on wood core
1 1/2 x 11 x 11 in. (3.81 x 27.94 x 27.94 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs Richard W. Chan (M.87.204.2)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Black-lacquered Box with Auspicious Designs
Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), 19th century
Furnishings; Accessories
Brown lacquer on wood core with mother-of-pearl inlay and brass fittings
5 3/4 x 18 1/2 x 5 1/4 in. (14.61 x 47 x 13.34 cm)
Purchased with Museum Funds (M.2000.15.150)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Tray (Pan) in the Form of a Plum Blossom with Birds and Flowers
China, Late Southern Song dynasty, about 1200-1279
Furnishings; Serviceware
Carved red lacquer on wood core
Height: 7/8 in. (2.2 cm), Diameter: 7 3/8 in. (18.8 cm)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Sam K. Lee (M.86.330)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Footed Tray in the Form of a Chrysanthemum with a Fantastic Animal (Kirin in Japanese)
Ryukyu Islands, about 1600-1700
Furnishings; Serviceware
Red and black lacquer on wood core with litharge painted decoration (mitsuda in Japanese)
1 1/4 x 12 3/4 in. (3.18 x 32.39 cm)
Gift of Robert and Gwenna Blackmore (M.81.188)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Dragon amid Clouds (Inrō/Ojime/Netsuke Ensemble)
Alternate Title: 印籠　根付　緒締
Japan, Ryūkyū Kingdom, mid-18th century
Costumes; Accessories
[inrō] lacquer with inlays of aogai (iridescent abalone shell) and gold; [ojime] ivory and metal; [netsuke] ivory
.a) inrō: 3 7/8 × 2 3/16 × 1 in. (9.9 × 5.5 × 2.6 cm) .b) ojime: 3/4 × 11/16 × 11/16 in. (1.9 × 1.8 × 1.8 cm) .c) netsuke: 1 1/2 × 1 13/16 × 5/16 in. (3.8 × 4.6 × 0.8 cm)
Gift of Miss Bella Mabury (M.39.2.308a-c)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Foliated Box with Cartouches Showing Figures in Landscapes
Ryukyu Islands, about 1750-1850
Furnishings; Accessories
Red and black lacquer on wood core with painted and applied gold leaf decoration (hakue in Japanese)
8 3/8 x 9 7/8 in. (21.27 x 25.08 cm)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Michael R. Terk (M.79.181.1a-b)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Ewer with Dragon Handle
China, Chinese, Ming dynasty, probably Jiajing period, 1522-1566
Carved black and red lacquer on wood
11 7/16 x 8 11/16 in. (29 x 22 cm)
Gift of Dale and Nicole Lum (AC1998.222.1)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Footed Tray with Figures in a Landscape and Symbols of Seven Immortals
Ryukyu Islands, about 1700-1800
Furnishings; Serviceware
Red lacquer on wood core with incised and gold-filled decoration (chinkin in Japanese, qiangjin in Chinese)
Height: 1 5/8 in. (62.5 cm); Diameter: 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Krashen (M.80.109.2)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Seal Box (Yinhe) with Lotus Scrolls and the Eight Buddhist Symbols (Bajixiang)
China, Chinese, Ming dynasty, Yongle period, 1403-1424
Furnishings; Accessories
Red lacquer with incised and gold-filled decoration (qiangjin) and gilt-bronze fittings
5 1/4 x 4 9/16 x 4 9/16 in. (13.34 x 11.59 x 11.59 cm)
Far Eastern Art Council Fund (AC1993.139.1)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Bowl with Dragonfly, Butterfly, and Flowers
Ryukyu Islands, about 1400-1600
Furnishings; Serviceware
Black and red lacquer on wood core with incised and gold-filled decoration (chinkin in Japanese, qiangjin in Chinese)
1 3/4 x 4 3/8 in. (4.45 x 11.11 cm)
Gift of Donald and Iris Blackmore (M.84.101)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Container with Twin Dragon Design
Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), 19th century
Furnishings; Accessories
Brown lacquer with sprinkled gold on wood core with mother-of-pearl, tortoise shell, and twisted brass wire inlay
Overall: 5 3/8 x 9 in. (13.66 x 22.86 cm); .a) Cover: 1 3/4 x 9 in. (4.45 x 22.86 cm); .b) Box: 4 1/4 x 9 in. (10.8 x 22.86 cm)
Purchased with Museum Funds (M.2000.15.153a-b)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Kotsuzumi (Small Hourglass Drum) with Peonies
Alternate Title: Botan mon makie kotsuzumi
Descriptive: Drum for noh drama
Japan, Edo period, 17th century
Lacquer
Lacquer on wood with gold powder (takamakie, e-nashiji, hiramakie), horsehide, gold paper, and silk cords
Drum Core: 9 5/16 x 4 in. (25.3 x 10.2 cm)
In Honor of Shizu Shimoda from the Hiroshi Shimoda Family (M.89.134.1)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Oval Tray (Duoyuan Pan) with Pavilion on a Garden Terrace
China, Yuan dynasty, 1279-1368
Furnishings; Serviceware
Carved red lacquer on wood
1 1/4 x 9 1/4 x 6 3/8 in. (3.18 x 23.4 x 16.1 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Nessley (M.81.125.1)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Cosmetic Box (Lian) in the Form of a Lotus Pod with Lotus Scrolls
China, Yuan dynasty, 1279-1368
Furnishings; Accessories
Black lacquer on wood core with gold painted decoration (miaojin) and pewter trim
Height: 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm); Diameter: 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm)
Gift of Sam K. Lee and Jennifer A. Curlee in honor of the museum's twenty-fifth anniversary (M.90.70.6a-b)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Small Round Lidded Cosmetic Box (Lian) with Scrolling Clouds and Birds
China, late Western Han dynasty, about 100 B.C.-A.D. 25
Furnishings; Accessories
Black and red lacquer on fabric and clay core with red and yellow painted decoration, silver mounts, and gold and silver foil inlays
a) Box: 2 7/16 x 1 5/8 in. (6.20 x 4.13 cm); b) Lid: 2 1/4 x 1 7/8 in. (5.72 x 4.77 cm)
Purchased with funds provided by an anonymous donor, Elly Nordskog, the Sammy Yukuan Lee Foundation, and Simon K.C. Li (M.2001.32.3a-b)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Dish (Pan) with Sword-Pommel Pattern
China, Yuan dynasty, 1279-1368
Furnishings; Serviceware
Carved black and red lacquer on wood core (tixi)
1 5/8 x 10 7/8 in. (4.13 x 27.62 cm)
Gift of the Sammy Yu-kuan Lee family in honor of his eightieth birthday (M.82.135)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Inrō with Design of Dragon amid Clouds and Waves
Japan, 17th century
Costumes; Accessories
Tortoiseshell, lacquer, gold
3 1/4 × 1 3/4 × 1 in. (8.26 × 4.45 × 2.54 cm)
Gift of Joseph M. and Janet F. Cobert (M.2014.292)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Lidded Cosmetic Box (Lian) with Scrolling Clouds and Supernatural Creatures
China, Late Western Han dynasty, about 100 B.C.-A.D. 25
Furnishings; Accessories
Black lacquer on hemp core with red and yellow painted decoration and silver foil inlays
Lid: approximately 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (8.9 x 16.5 cm); Body: 4 x 6 in. (10.2 x 15.2 cm)
Far Eastern Art Council Acquisition Fund (AC1997.50.1.1-.2)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Inrō, Ojime, Netsuke
Alternate Title: 印籠　根付　緒締
Attributed to Kansai III (Japan, died 1857)
Japan, second half of 19th century
Costumes; Accessories
Inrō: black lacquer on substrate; Ojime: black hardstone or glass; Netsuke: ebony; manjū type
Inro: 4 1/4 × 1 15/16 × 11/16 in. (10.8 × 4.92 × 1.75 cm) Ojime: 1/2 × 9/16 in. (1.27 × 1.43 cm) Netsuke: 1 5/8 × 1 7/16 × 9/16 in. (4.13 × 3.65 × 1.43 cm)
Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection (AC1998.249.318)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Lacquer Box with Flower, Bird, Plum and Bamboo Design
Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), 18th century
Furnishings; Accessories
Brown lacquer on wood core with mother-of-pearl inlay and brass fittings
3 1/2 x 11 x 11 in. (8.89 x 27.94 x 27.94 cm)
Purchased with Museum Funds (M.2000.15.147a-b)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Octagonal Three-tiered Food Box (Bajiao Sanceng He) with Flowers and Cartouches Showing Scholars in Landscapes
China, Yuan dynasty, 1279-1368
Furnishings; Accessories
Red lacquer on wood core with incised and gold-filled decoration (qiangjin)
10 3/8 x 10 3/8 x 10 3/8 in. (26.35 x 26.35 x 26.35 cm)
Purchased with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Lee (M.82.207a-c)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Cup Stand (Tuozhan) in the Form of a Lotus Blossom
China, Southern Song dynasty, 1127-1279
Furnishings; Serviceware
Black lacquer on wood core with banded metal rim and foot
Diameter: 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm)
Gift of Robert and Gwenna Blackmore (M.83.146.1)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Chest with Peonies
Ryukyu Islands, about 1650-1750
Furnishings; Furniture
Red lacquer on wood core with applied gold leaf (hakue in Japanese), and incised decoration (tsuikin in Japanese), and metal fittings
23 13/16 x 35 3/8 x 22 13/16 in. (60.5 x 90.5 x 58 cm)
Purchased with funds provided by the Sammy Yukuan Lee Foundation in appreciation of Mr. and Mrs. Keitaku Takagi (M.90.99.5)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Dish (Pan) with Chrysanthemums
China, Chinese, Late Yuan dynasty or early Ming dynasty, about 1340-1450
Furnishings; Serviceware
Carved red lacquer on wood core
Height: 1 3/8 in. (3.4 cm); Diameter: 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm)
Purchased with funds provided by the Sammy Yukuan Lee Foundation in appreciation of Mr. George Kuwayama (M.90.99.3)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Food Box (He) with Flowers and Cartouches Showing Figures in Landscapes
China, Chinese, Middle Ming dynasty, about 1450-1550
Furnishings; Accessories
Black lacquer on wood core with mother-of-pearl inlay
Overall: 8 3/4 x 12 in. (22.23 x 30.48 cm); .a) Cover: 4 1/2 x 12 in. (11.43 x 30.48 cm); .b) Middle: 1 x 11 1/2 in. (2.54 x 29.21 cm); .c) Base: 4 7/8 x 11 7/8 in. (12.38 x 30.16 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Nessley (M.80.95a-b)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Writing Box
Alternate Title: 硯箱
Japan, 2nd half 18th century
Lacquer
Lacquered wood with inlays of mother-of-pearl, green stone, coral, tortoiseshell, wood, and metal
2 5/8 x 6 5/8 x 8 1/8 in. (6.7 x 16.8 x 20.6 cm)
Gift of Mrs. William J. Robertson (AC1993.179.1)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Octagonal Food Box (Bajiao He) with Three Birds, Two Butterflies and Camellias and Plum Blossoms
China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, 1675
Furnishings; Accessories
Black lacquer with painted decoration and wickerwork
unspecified: 8 1/10 x 18 1/4 in. (20.5 x 46.36 cm); 8 x 18 1/4 in. (20.32 x 46.36 cm); Bottom: 4.72 in. (12 cm); Lid: 3 1/2 in. (9 cm); Foot: 3 in. (7.62 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Gillberg (M.78.121.10a-b)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Sutra Cover (Jingzhiban) with Three Flaming Jewels (Sanbao) and Four of the Eight Buddhist Symbols (Baxiang)
China, Chinese, Ming dynasty, Yongle period, 1403-1424
Furnishings; Accessories
Red lacquer on wood core with incised and gold-filled decoration (qiangjin)
1 1/4 x 28 3/4 x 10 5/8 in. (3.2 x 73 x 27 cm)
Gift of Norma and Howard K. Lee in memory of his brother, Sam K. Lee Ph.D. (M.2001.214)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Black-lacquered Box with Auspicious Design
Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), 19th century
Furnishings; Accessories
Black lacquer on wood core with mother-of-pearl inlay and metal fittings
11 1/2 × 17 1/4 × 10 1/2 in. (29.21 × 43.82 × 26.67 cm)
Purchased with Museum Funds (M.2000.15.165)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Dish (Pan) with Scholar and Attendants under a Tree
China, Chinese, Ming dynasty, Wanli period, 1595
Furnishings; Serviceware
Yellow, red, orange, green, black, brown lacquer on wood core with incised and lacquer-filled decoration (tianqi)
1 1/8 x 6 3/8 in. (2.86 x 16.19 cm)
Gift of John K. Lee in memory of Belle Donovan (M.90.71.10)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Chest of Drawers with Design of the "Eight Views of Ōmi"
Alternate Title: 近江八景蒔絵箪笥
Yamamoto Shunshō (Japan, active 17th-19th centuries)
Japan, mid-Edo period, 1615-1868
Lacquer
Lacquer over wood; gold and silver leaf, flakes, and powder (makie); silver mounts
Overall: 14 5/8 x 18 7/8 x 12 in. (37.15 x 47.94 x 30.48 cm)
Gift of the 2003 Collectors Committee (M.2003.60a-h)
© Los Angeles County Museum of Art

 
News 11, Exhibitions 2Editorial TeamArt of the Ancestors, Steven G. Alpert, Asian Art, Island Southeast Asian Art, Oceanic Art, Asiatica, Ethnographica, Ethnographic Art, Art Collection, Fine Art, Primitive Art, Indonesian Art, Tribal Art, Eyes of the Ancestors, Dr. Reimar Schefold, LACMA, Fiji