Artwork preview

The Fungus and Orchid Room

Jian Guzhai

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Fungus and Orchid Room by Jian Guzhai: Dark gray, elongated plaque with octagonal top and bottom. The plaque features a raised border around the perimeter made up of small circles enclosed within a double-lined frame. Inside the border are three lines of white Chinese characters, positioned vertically and centered. The bottom third of the plaque depicts an embossed design of long grasses and plants, with a cluster of fungi or flowers on the left and what appears to be a toad or other small creature on the right. The plaque is set against a plain white background, with a visible shadow to the left.

Artwork details

Date:
late 19th–early 20th century
Medium:
Pine soot and binding medium; inscribed in gilt
Culture:
China
Dimensions:
327 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette