The Study of Jiajing Carved Lacquerwares: An Example in the Collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

This article presents a detailed case study of a red carved lacquer dish (accession number 33–575/2) inscribed with a mark of the Jiajing period (1521–1567 CE) of the Ming dynasty, currently in the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Examination, analysis, and stylistic studies revealed new information regarding the material composition, manufacturing techniques, and decorative properties of the object. The analytical results were compared and contrasted with those of three other carved lacquer objects with Jiajing marks. The technical study included fluorescent light microscopy, pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The information from the cross-disciplinary study suggests the red carved lacquer dish 33–575/2 is unlikely to be the creation of the Ming Jiajing official production. The inscription is, therefore, likely to be a spurious inscription produced from a later period.