Cabinet with Design of Butterflies

Japan (Ryūkyū Islands)

Not on view

Butterflies and flowers are often found in the visual arts of China and the Ryūkyū Islands in the eighteenth century. The butterflies decorating this cabinet were painted in black and gold lacquer and inlaid with pearl shell. The overall shape of the cabinet and the four small feet show parallels to Japanese art. A large opening in the shape of a swastika in the cabinet's back wall suggests that it was once used to house Buddhist sutras or religious paraphernalia.

Cabinet with Design of Butterflies, Red lacquer with painted decoration, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Japan (Ryūkyū Islands)

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Cabinet with Design of Butterflies, Red lacquer with painted decoration, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Japan (Ryūkyū Islands)
Cabinet with Design of Butterflies, Red lacquer with painted decoration, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Japan (Ryūkyū Islands)

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