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Serving tray

2nd century BC

Not on view

Made from tree sap, lacquer was one of the earliest inventions of East Asia. Its use in southeast China can be traced to the Neolithic period. Although raw lacquer is toxic, it is harmless when dry, and its remarkable resistance to water, acid, and heat makes it ideal for culinary utensils.

This group represents a set of tablewares for individual use, reflecting dining etiquette of the Han period. Each person had his or her own low table on which a tray of vessels for food and drink was placed. Guests did not sit around one large table, as they do today.

Serving tray, Lacquer over wood, China — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Serving tray, Lacquer over wood, China

Serving tray, Lacquer over wood, China

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

西汉漆案

Title: Serving tray

Period: Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)

Date: 2nd century BC

Culture: China

Medium: Lacquer over wood

Dimensions: H. 2 3/16 in. (5.5 cm); W. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm); L. 23 11/16 in. (60.2 cm)

Classification: Lacquer

Credit Line: Lent by Hunan Provincial Museum

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.