The Rise of Pictorial Representation in China: New Evidence from a Lacquer Box in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The article focuses on the ancient lacquer box from the fifth century BCE, as new evidence on the rise of pictorial representation in China. The box presented to The Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves one of the earliest examples of painted pictorial representation. It is formed of two faceted hemispherical bowls, with two bronze ring-handles in the form of animal masks attached to the body just below the smaller lid. The exterior part of the box is completely covered with painted decorations.