Sumptuous: East Asian Lacquer, 14th–20th Century

For more than two millennia, lacquer has been a primary medium in the arts of East Asia. This installation explores the many ways in which this material has been manipulated to create designs by painting, carving, or inlaying precious materials such as gold or mother-of-pearl. Drawn entirely from the permanent collection, this display celebrates the artistry and creativity needed to work this demanding material while illustrating both the similarities and differences found in the lacquer arts of China, Korea, and Japan.