BERWALD ORIENTAL ART
Sold at Asian Art in London, November 2001, to an American museum
Lacquer Qin
Warring States period (475–221 B.C.)
Length 34 1/4" (87 cm)
Courtesy of Berwald Oriental Art
In November 2001, this qin won the prestigious AXA award for the most outstanding piece of Asian art at Asian Art in London.
This extremely rare and finely decorated five-stringed qin zither illustrates both form and design found in Chu kingdom lacquer. The powerfully carved, realistic animal forms and the mythical designs were both extensively employed in adorning objects of this period. The lacquer art form reached a pinnacle during the Spring, Autumn, and Warring States periods, when these colorful and exciting pieces vied with bronzes and silks to capture the eye of the elite. The importance of music in both court ritual and the home is evident in the artistry of this zither. A similar qin zither dating to circa 433 B.C. was found in the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zheng (Zeng Hou Yi), in Suizhou, Hubei province.
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