Octagonal lacquer, mother-of-pearl and wicker inlaid tray
Wanli mark and period, 1573 – 1619
Diameter: 34.8 cm | 13 5/8 in

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The shallow tray is decorated in the well with the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in mother- of-pearl inlay against a black lacquer ground. The Seven Sages were a group of Taoist scholars, writers and musicians (as a group, probably fictitious – but based upon 3rd century AD individuals) who sought refuge from court life during the political intrigues of the Three Kingdoms period.

The scene is uncluttered, and the inlays of sufficient size to flaunt the shells’ colourful changing hues when contrasted against the dark background. The sides of the tray gently unfold and are decorated on the inside with a diaper ground in mother-of-pearl. In the centre of each of the octagonal sides, an elongated and shaped opening is backed by a recessed wicker panel – the reverse inlaid with eight symbolic items interspersed by a ribbon design. The base and back are lacquered a mottled brown – the former recessed above a short arched foot on each of the eight sides. On the centre of the base, a rectangular mother-of-pearl inset panel bears an incised Wanli mark of the period, in archaistic style.

Similar example: Mother-of-Pearl, A Tradition in Asian Lacquer, by Denise Patry Leidy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2006, figure 24: this tray, from the same period, is stylistically similar (though rectangular in shape) depicting figures in a landscape, and incorporating basketwork sides.