Ink Tablet with Two Phoenixes Design 1875 - 1933

This circular ink tablet, crafted from black lacquer, features an intricate design of two phoenixes. The phoenixes, symbols of longevity and good fortune in Chinese culture, are depicted in an elegant, stylized manner against a backdrop of delicate craquelure. Created by the renowned Ming Dynasty artist Cheng Junfang, the tablet showcases his mastery of the lacquerware technique and exemplifies the aesthetic sensibilities of his time. This piece is a rare example of Ming Dynasty art and provides valuable insight into the cultural significance of the phoenix motif in Chinese art.