Tray 19th century

This lacquered wood tray was made by Shibata Zeshin in Japan, sometime in the 19th Century. A painting of a folding fan and plum blossoms decorates it. The fan, an emblem of status and refinement, unfurls with potential. The plum blossoms, with their delicate beauty, speak to the fleeting nature of time and the promise of renewal, as they are among the first to bloom in spring. Consider the fan's reappearance throughout history, from ancient Roman mosaics to Renaissance paintings. It is often a symbol of power and sophistication, yet here, it is rendered with an understated simplicity, connecting it to earlier depictions while forging its unique identity. Similarly, the plum blossom, a motif in Chinese art for centuries, resonates with similar themes of perseverance and beauty found in the natural world. These images stir something primal within us, a collective memory of shared experiences and emotions. The fan, a shield and a tool, also speaks of secrets. The blossoms are fleeting. They engage our subconscious, reminding us of life's transience. Both motifs remind us of cycles, of the continuous return and renewal that shapes our understanding of the world.