Dining Set in Gourd-Shaped Container
Country
China
Object
set, picnic
Medium
bamboo, paper, lacquer and metal
Accession Number
2004.885.1-32
Credit Line
Gift of Adelle Lutz and David Byrne
Dining Set in Gourd-Shaped Container. bamboo, paper, lacquer and metal. Gift of Adelle Lutz and David Byrne. 2004.885.1-32.
Dimensions
height: 23.25 in, 59.0550 cm
Department
Arts of Asia
Collection
Arts of Asia
Dining Set in Gourd-Shaped Container
China
1700s-1800s, Qing dynasty (re-lacquered Japan, late 1940s)
Bamboo, paper, lacquer, metal
Lutz Bamboo Collection, gift of Adelle Lutz and David Byrne
2004.885.1-.32
A dining set complete with wine pourer, wine cups, covered containers, bowls, and plates is nested into a hinged, gourd-shaped carrying case. The set is formed by weaving fine strands of bamboo into a subtle lozenge pattern and applying layers of paper and lacquer to make the case and vessels rigid. In China, the calabash or bottle gourd (hulu or huzi) was used as a container for food, liquor, and medicine. Full of seeds, it is symbolic of fertility, abundance, and good fortune. The bottle gourd is also associated with magic and immortality.
Known Provenance
At least 1979-2004, Lutz Bamboo Collection, purchased at an unknown date in Nara, Japan; 2004, DAM collection, gift of the Lutz family.
