Pair of Incense Boxes in the Shape of Mandarin Ducks

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Pair of Incense Boxes in the Shape of Mandarin Ducks
Japanese: 鴛鴦形蒔絵香合
The pair of ducks set on their tray
Year17th century
MediumLacquer
LocationMetropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The

mandarin ducks
in its collection.

Description

The pair of boxes (

Zen Buddhist ceremonies. The two boxes are shaped like mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata), which were considered symbols of marital bliss and fidelity. Both the ducks and their stand are made from wood covered in gold lacquer.[1]
The top of the stand is decorated with groups of pond plants.

The ducks were donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the bequest of Benjamin Altman in 1913.[1]

Gallery

  • The ducks when opened
    The ducks when opened
  • The ducks' tray
    The ducks' tray

References

  1. ^ a b "Pair of Incense Boxes (Kōgō) in the Shape of Mandarin Ducks". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-07-07.