Yongle Lacquer Carving (Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Circular Box with Double-Dragon and Peony Patterns)
The carved cinnabar lacquer circular box with double-dragon and peony patterns dates back to Emperor Yongle's reign (1403-1424) of the Ming Dynasty. The center of the box cover is carved with two dragons playing with a pearl, with peony patterns as the background, surrounded by diamond decorative motifs.
The cover was crafted with the lacquer carving technique: Lacquer is repeatedly applied on the surface of the object, and then patterns are carved after the lacquer reaches a certain thickness. The most commonly used lacquer colors are red, yellow, green, and black, which can also be applied alternately. Common red lacquerware is called cinnabar lacquer carving.
Zhu Di (1360-1424), Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, loved carved lacquerwares. He established a royal lacquerware workshop in the imperial city and recruited famous craftsmen from around the country to produce carved lacquerwares.
During his reign, the layers of lacquer applied increased significantly, up to 100-200 layers, and the thickness could reach about 1.5 centimeters. Carved lacquerwares of the Yongle reign boast exquisite carving and multi-layered and stereoscopic decorative patterns, which have been highly acclaimed by later generations.
Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty loved carved lacquerwares ofthe Yongle reign so much that he ordered the mark "Yongle" be engraved on newly carved lacquerwares.
This box features a thick layer of lacquer. The edges of the patterns are smoothly polished, concealing the carving traces . The decorative style and dragon patterns are typical of carved lacquerwares of the Yongle reign, representing the highest level of lacquer carving at that time.
永乐雕漆（剔红双龙牡丹纹圆盒）
剔红双龙牡丹纹圆盒为明永乐时期（1403—1424）的漆器。盒盖正中雕有双龙戏珠图案，以牡丹纹衬底，纹饰空隙间布满精细的菱花锦纹。
盒盖采用漆雕工艺，即在胎表层层刷漆，积累到一定厚度后再雕刻花纹。所用漆色有红、黄、绿、黑等，也可交替叠刷。常见的红色漆雕被称为剔红。明成祖朱棣酷爱雕漆器，曾在皇城内建立御用漆器作坊，汇集地方名匠，专门生产雕漆器。他在位期间制作的永乐雕漆，刷漆层数明显增多，可达一二百层，厚度可达1.5厘米上下。永乐雕漆雕工精美，花纹层次丰富，立体感强，受到后人的广泛推崇。清代乾隆皇帝钟爱永乐雕漆，曾下令在新制的雕漆器上镌刻永乐款。
此漆盒漆层肥厚，图案边缘圆润光滑，不露棱角和刀刻痕迹，装饰风格及龙纹具备永乐雕漆的标准特征，代表了明代永乐雕漆的最高水平。
