Foliate Tray with a Dragon and Waves

This work depicts a dragon against a backdrop of waves and mountains. The scales of the dragon are inlaid with blue shells while the dorsal fin and claws are inlaid with red shells. On the front of this black lacquer tray, thin slices of shell have been artfully arranged into a pattern through the technique of mother-of-pearl inlay. Many such works with intricate patterns were produced in China. The shells give this type of lacquerware a brilliant white sparkle. This tray was produced in Yuan-dynasty China. The tray itself is in the shape of a flower with eight petals. The sharp appearance and shape of the piece are characteristic of the Yuan Dynasty.

In the center of the tray, a five-clawed dragon’s wildly twisting body is depicted with mother-of-pearl inlay. In front of the dragon’s eyes floats a magical flaming jewel; clouds roil around its body, and waves curl backwards. Looking closely at each scale of the dragon, or the moving waves, you can appreciate the level of skill required to carefully attach the pieces of shell. The refined use of color—green shells on the dragon’s scales and red shells on its fins—shows the delicate artistic sense of the person who crafted it. This work is well known as a masterpiece from China created with mother-of-pearl inlay.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.