Cinnabar: The Chinese Art of Carved Lacquer | Arts in the City

The show features the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition "Cinnabar: The Chinese Art of Carved Lacquer, 14th to 19th Century". It explored thousands years Chinese lacquer art tradition.
Many art pieces on view were works created as birthday gifts, these gifts represented people's good wishes, its symbolic meaning and its culture background were also discussed. For example, peaches and pine tree leaves symbolized longevity; melon and pomegranate symbolized many kids and family prosperity, dragons are symbols for the emperors or emperor's power.
Cinnabar has long been used by ancient Chinese as red color pigment as well as medicine for longevity. Its poisonous nature is also revealed in the show.
The daily life scenes of ideal Chinese scholars were portrait in the art works, many were done by Ming and Qing imperial workshops, they represented the highest level of Chinese lacquer carving in different times. For example, a rare 14th century tray carved with two ladies and 33 children, it represented the Chinese wishes for a prosperous family.
The largest piece was a rare 19th century screen, it illustrated a Chinese legend Guo Ziyi's birthday party, with over 40 people in the scene, each of them was carved vividly.
(Tapped: 8/29/2017)
Arts in the City is a monthly look at the lively arts scene -- film, theatre, art, dance, music and events -- in the New York metropolitan area. This fast-moving half hour explores all aspects of the arts....from conception to completion. It looks at the most sophisticated of presentations to the most singular street musician toiling at his/her art. Art in all its forms is introduced and examined throughout the tri-state area.
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[@monikamir1]

We own a beautiful carved lacquer tray that belonged to my husband's grandfather, who used to be a merchant in the late 1800, use to travel from Switzerland to China to buy Chinese silk and Art.

[@sebastiank9175]

you so fortunate cause aged lacquered if taken care has a beautiful patina and deep black burgundy color that is so highly valued and prized.

[@malexander2438]

I stumbled across this today. It's incredible

[@khengvuy3597]

Beautiful of Art

[@schi390]

Extremely beautiful China Art. China is the best!!!

[@sebastiank9175]

some of the yuan dynasty lacquered box actually looks very contemporary and similar to Maori carvings. simply just gorgeous !

[@dinakassilasyarifah4823]

Beautiful red and blac,,,indah ya ,,,mangkin penasaran dgn sejarah dinasti china,,,

[@Anubis-hm7ro]

Great description

[@angeliqueroux3017]

Fun fact on the medicinal value: Cinnabar is used in TCM, in extreme moderation, to anchor and calm shen or “spirit” - in other words for anxiety, etc.

[@jessicag630]

But, it is found to be toxic in modern era, if I'm not mistaken. It is mercury right?

[@SaberKhan13]

The irony...longevity ended up cutting life short.

[@vladnickul]

the real irony is, chinesse people cant see this video. ;)

[@leow5632]

@@vladnickul The China Chinese can't but the Singaporean, Malaysian Chinese and many ethnic Chinese in other countries can.

[@hangten1904]

@@leow5632 Yes they can through VPN

[@Anubis-hm7ro]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@mjremy2605]

This was a treat to watch and listen! Please leave music out of all videos. It pollutes them.

[@fourfabfaths9244]

This was fascinating, but come on, she just heard the guy say “Tang” with a long “a”, and then went on to pronounce it like the astronaut drink. Drives me crazy. Same with how people say “Ying and Yang” with a short a, it’s “Yin and Yang,” pronounced with a long “a.” Like “Yahng.”

[@denwiessimo6088]

At 5:55 are the figures fitted to the underground instead of the entire piece being carved as a whole?

[@trappenweisseguy27]

No, carved from solid lacquer. Maybe more than 100 coats of it.

[@quintonburkham50]

Omg thank you

[@jojitakagi4641]

Great collection of lacquer

[@ChickenPermissionOG]

That stuff is so toxic.